Research has established a link between parental psychopathology, perceptions of parents, and child outcomes. Separately, negative perceptions of a parent and parental psychopathology are associated with negative outcomes. However, a stronger relationship may exist when these factors are combined. Current research indicates that children tend to view a parent with psychopathology more negatively and consequently are at a greater risk for psychopathology. Less research examines the outcomes of children who hold positive perceptions of a parent with psychopathology, as well as the effects of perceptions of parents on emerging adults. The current study tested a model where perceptions of parents moderated the relationship between parental psychopathology and emerging adult psychopathology. Results indicated that holding positive perceptions of a parent with internalizing problems puts an emerging adult at a greater risk for internalizing problems, whereas the effect of parental psychopathology and perceptions of parents on emerging adult externalizing problems was unclear.

The current study investigated the effects of parenting styles in same-sex and opposite-sex parent-child dyads, as well as the differences in parenting styles in two regions of the country. This study’s sample came from two previously collected datasets: one from Mississippi and one from Florida. The participants reported on perceived parental behaviors, parenting styles, discipline practices, and their own psychological adjustment. There were main effects for gender of emerging adults and parenting styles of mothers and fathers. No interactions between the genders of the parent and child reached significance. The results of Pearson correlations suggest that authoritarian parenting leads to negative outcomes for individuals from Florida, although there was no relationship for individuals from Mississippi. Conversely, the results suggest that permissive parenting leads to negative outcomes for individuals from Mississippi, although there was no relationship for individuals from Florida. Thus, outcomes related to parenting seem to differ by region.