Abstract
An important focus of developmental research has centered upon the role of parents in the emotional-psychological development of children and adolescents. During the past 25 years a sizable body of empirical evidence on these socialization processes has emerged. In this study the relation of parents' hostility to the self-esteem of older adolescents was investigated. College students (N=125) and both parents of each student participated. Students responded to questionnaires measuring self-concept and self-monitoring, while parents completed the Hostility (Ho) Scale of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. Results indicated mothers' and fathers' hostility was correlated with their adolescents' self-esteem. Mothers' hostility was more strongly correlated (inversely) to sons' self-esteem, whereas fathers' hostility was more strongly correlated (inversely) to daughters' self-esteem. Adolescent Other-directedness had strong cognitive moderator effects, increasing the deleterious effects of fathers' hostility upon adolescents' self-esteem. These findings suggest that Ho may be a cognitive construct. (ABL)