Intergenerational Effects of Adversity on Adolescent Self-Efficacy: The Role of Parental Self-Regulation

Understanding the mechanisms underlying intergenerational cycles of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may help support families to break these cycles. Parental self-efficacy is one potential mechanism, given its vulnerability to effects of ACEs and modifiability. This study explored whether parental ACEs affect parenting self-regulation, and in turn, adolescent self-efficacy. Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children K Cohort (N = 2,059 parent–adolescent dyads). Parallel mediation analyses with bootstrapping examined whether ACEs experienced by parents before age 18 were associated with adolescent self-efficacy at age 14–15 years, via parent self-regulation (personal agency and self-efficacy) measured when adolescents were aged 12–13 years. Greater parental ACEs were associated with lower adolescent self-efficacy, both directly and via lower parental self-efficacy. Lower parental personal agency was also associated with lower adolescent self-efficacy. Self-regulation may be a mechanism in the intergenerational transmission of adversity and a promising target for intervention.