The Mediating Role Of Value-Driven Decision-Making In The Association Between Relationship Quality And Internalizing Experiences

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2026

School

Child and Family Studies

Abstract

Objective: The goal was to determine if autonomy development plays a mediating role in the relationship between maternal–adolescent relationship quality and adolescent internalizing experiences. Background: An extensive body of previous research has established that maternal–adolescent relationship quality and autonomy development both have a positive impact on mental health outcomes for adolescents, yet little is known about the way in which these factors may operate in sequence to influence one another. Method: Using a structural equation modeling design with data from the Flourishing Families study, this study explored the mediating role of adolescent autonomous value-driven decision-making at Wave 5 in the relationship between maternal–adolescent relationship quality at Wave 4 and adolescent internalizing experiences at Wave 6. Results: Our results indicated that higher levels of maternal–adolescent relationship quality at Wave 4 were significantly associated with lower levels of adolescent depression at Wave 6 via the mediating pathway of autonomous value-driven decision-making at Wave 5. No significant indirect effects were detected to adolescent anxiety. Conclusion: Autonomy development plays an important role in mediating the association between adolescent–maternal relationship quality and adolescent internalizing experiences. Implications: Clinicians and family life educators can support adolescent well-being through a focus on increasing autonomy-supportive parenting.

Publication Title

Family Relations

Volume

75

Issue

1

First Page

139

Last Page

159

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