Abattouy, O., Stevens, G. W. J. M., Lubbers, M., Branje, S., & Finkenauer, C. (2025). Autonomy restrictions and desires in parent–youth relationships: Examining the role of immigration background. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001425
This study examined how youth’s perceptions of parental autonomy restrictions relate to conflicts with and support from parents, and whether this differs for youth with and without an immigration background. Using a sample of 975 Dutch youth aged 16–25, we found that perceiving more restrictions was associated with more conflicts and less support—but only for youth without an immigration background. When youth had stronger desires for autonomy, restrictions were linked to even more conflicts. Youth with an immigration background perceived more restrictions yet reported lower autonomy desires than their peers. The findings highlight that autonomy dynamics operate differently across cultural contexts, challenging assumptions that restrictions uniformly harm parent–youth relationships.
OUISEARCH 