The Goodness of Fit in Autonomy Timetable Expectations between Asian-American Late Adolescents and their Parents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the goodness of ”t of autonomy timetable expectations between Asian-American late adolescents and their parents. The “goodness of ”t” model (Lerner & Lerner, 1983; Thomas & Chess, 1977) was used as a framework to guide this study. All 99 Asian-American late adolescents completed self-report questionnaires. Results indicate that, overall, late adolescents would have liked to experience an earlier timetable of autonomy than their parents had allowed. However, there was variation in the sample, that is, there were some adolescents who did not want a different timetable than they were allowed. Also, it was found that the goodness of ”t between the autonomy timetable that adolescents would have liked and what their parents had allowed was a better predictor of adolescent adjustment than simply knowing the timetable of autonomy that adolescents had actually experienced. Late adolescents who experienced a good ”t with perceived parental expectations of autonomy reported higher levels of self-esteem and emotional closeness to their parents, and lower levels of depression, behaviour misconduct, and insecurity with parents, compared to their poor ”tting counterparts. It is proposed that the concept of “goodness of ”t” is a useful framework for the investigation of autonomy development, and subsequent adjustment in Asian-American late adolescents.