A Longitudinal Study of Parental Solicitation, Rule-Setting, and Psychological Control as Predictors of Adolescent Disclosure across More Individualistic and More Collectivistic Countries

Although autonomy-relevant parenting practices (solicitation, rule-setting, and psychological control) have been linked to adolescent disclosure, little is known about how these practices operate across cultural contexts. Existing studies often examined these practices in isolation or relied on cross-sectional designs, limiting understanding of their unique relations over time. This study examined these associations longitudinally across eight countries differing in average individualism and collectivism, focusing on the mediating role of adolescents’ perceptions of parental warmth, neglect, and overcontrol. Participants were 1,215 adolescents (50.3% girls) assessed at ages 13, 15, and 16. Perceived psychological control predicted greater perceived neglect and overcontrol, and perceived overcontrol, in turn, significantly predicted lower disclosure; this indirect effect was significant. Neither solicitation nor rule-setting predicted disclosure over time. However, when focusing only on voluntary disclosure (excluding secrecy items), solicitation predicted greater disclosure. Findings highlight the differential impact of parenting practices on disclosure over time, with psychological control as a risk factor and solicitation potentially facilitating disclosure depending on its measurement.