Rethinking Parental Authority:  Cohort-Based Changes in Italian Family Practices

This study examines cohort differences in parenting practices in Italy, focusing on two key dimensions of parent–child relationships: parent–child communication and parental control. Using data from two waves (2000 and 2017) of the SELFY survey of university students, we investigate how parenting has evolved within Italy’s familistic context, characterized by strong intergenerational ties and prolonged transitions to adulthood. Parenting dimensions are modeled as latent constructs using a multidimensional Item Response Theory framework completed by a latent class analysis to identify distinct parenting profiles. Results show a marked decline in parental control between 2000 and 2017, while parent–child communication remains structurally stable. Despite these changes, parenting continues to be meaningfully associated with young adults’ outcomes. Higher parental control is consistently linked to lower engagement in risky behaviors, whereas communication displays associations with socioemotional skills.