The Effect of Parental Bonding Instrument on Over-Adaptation in Adolescence: From the Perspective of Gender Difference

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of parental bonding instrument (PBI) on over-adaptation in adolescence from the viewpoint of gender difference. The participants were 299 university students (male=125; female=174). The results showed that the level of mother’s loving on the PBI positively predicted boys’ and girls’ external aspect (EA) of over-adaptation, but negatively predicted girls’ internal aspect (IA) of over-adaptation. The level of mother’s overprotectiveness on the PBI was found to positively predict both EA and IA in adolescence. The level of father’s overprotectiveness on the PBI was positively associated with IA in boys; however, it was not significantly correlated with IA in girls.