Open Access

ARTICLE

Parental autonomy support effects on children’s school adjustment: The longitudinal mediating effect of executive function

Xia Hu¹, Zhu Li², Yawen Shi¹, Xiaopei Xing^1,*

1 Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Research Center for Child Development, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, No. 105 Xisan Huan Beilu, Beijing, 100048, China
2 Beijing Petroleum Managers Training Institue, Dewai Xisanqidong, Beijing, 100096, China

* Corresponding Author: Xiaopei Xing. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(4), 471-480. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.070062

Received 21 April 2025; Accepted 03 July 2025; Issue published 17 August 2025

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the association between parental autonomy support and school-aged children’s adjustment across four major domains of school functioning, as well as the mediating role of children’s executive function. Participants were 476 school-aged children (girl: 49.2%, M_age = 10.49 years, SD = 1.32 years), who completed the Psychological Autonomy Support Scale, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–2, and the Primary School Students’ Psychological Suzhi Scale at baseline and at two subsequent follow-up assessments. Results from unconditional latent growth curve models and structural equation modeling indicated that paternal autonomy support was a significant predictor of children’s adjustment across all four school domains. In contrast, maternal autonomy support was significantly associated only with interpersonal adjustment. Both the intercept (initial level) and slope (rate of change) of children’s executive function significantly predicted their adjustment in all four domains. Notably, the initial level of executive function fully mediated the association between paternal autonomy support and school adjustment, whereas the rate of change in executive function did not serve as a significant mediator. These findings underscore the importance of promoting parental autonomy-supportive behaviors-particularly among fathers-as a means to enhance children’s executive functioning and, consequently, their school adjustment.

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Keywords

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