Adolescent perceptions of fathers' authority and adolescent behavioral autonomy

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study:

Peterson (1986) examined the direct relationships between bases of fathers' authority and adolescent behavioral autonomy. The current study examines the direct and indirect relationships between adolescent perceptions of fathers' legitimate, expert, reward, coercive, and referent authority (French & Raven, 1959) using structural equations modeling and adolescent behavioral autonomy. A convenience sample was obtained consisting of 97 boys and 93 girls with a mean age of 16.0. The measurement model supported the dimensions identified by Peterson using exploratory factor analysis.

Findings and Conclusions:

The structural equations model required respecification which yielded x^2 = 30.8, p < .00; RMSEA = .15; RFI = .63 for the boys' model and x^2 = 25.2, p < .00; RMSEA = .13; RFI = .78 for the girls model. Significant relationships were found at p < .05 between expert, reward, and coercive authority and behavioral autonomy for boy and girl adolescents and referent authority and behavioral autonomy for boys only. Expert, reward, and referent authority mediated the relationship between legitimate authority and behavioral autonomy for boy and girl adolescents.