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Research
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Separation, Identity and Intimacy during Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Prospective Testing of Epigenetic Hypotheses Separation-individuation theory (Blos, 1967) and Erikson’s (1968) lifespan developmental theory claim that the developmental tasks of separation, identity and intimacy follow each other in a sequential order during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Using new conceptualizations and longitudinal research with adolescents aged 15 to 22 years, Stijn Van Petegem prospectively tests the central hypotheses (phasing and conditionality) of this epigenetic principle.
Home-Leaving and Separation-Individuation Processes in Emerging Adulthood In this research project Evie Kins (PhD student) is comparing a sample of emerging adults that are still living together with their parents to a matched group of emerging adults living on their own. The focus is on separation-individuation processes that guide home-leaving in this age group.
Do Collectivists Need Autonomy Too? An Investigation about Autonomy and Independence in a Cross-Cultural Context In this research project, PhD student Beiwen Chen is comparing Chinese and Belgian adolescents with respect to their autonomy (self-determination) and independence from parents. Special interest goes to the interaction between autonomy and independence, and the prediction of general well-being. In later phases, other countries and cultures will be included in the project.
Adolescents' Sexual Behavior: From Bad to Worse? The perception of sexual behavior during adolescence is not at all positive in our society. Often, sexual behavior during adolescence is considered an important aspect of problem behavior. In this project, we want to present a nuanced picture on youth's sex, through several cross-sectional and short-term longitudinal studies on sexual behavior, motivations for sex, sexual attitudes and a number of determinants and possible outcomes. Ultimately, we will follow 14 to 17 year olds four years in a longitudinal study, to distinguish various trajectories of psychosexual development, for example adolescents with a gradual versus very early versus non-stepwise sexual development. These trajectories are related to determinants (pubertal timing, relationships with parents and peers, motivations), correlates (relational and identity development), and consequences (self-esteem, externalizing) of variations in sexual development.
Parenting Explained: Mediating Variables in the Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Identity Formation in Late Adolescence In this research project we study the parenting as a source of successful individuation and identity formation in late adolescence. A mediator-model is examined, with mediators ranging from microlevel descriptors of the parent-late adolescent relationship (e.g., reciprocity) to aspects of late adolescents' personality. For this project I'm working together with my former colleagues at the Center for Developmental Psychology at the Catholic University of Leuven.
Family Environment, Attachment and Coping During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood In this project, I'm working together with Dr. Inge Seiffge-Krenke from the Dept. of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz (Germany). Using longitudinal data from 228 adolescents and their parents, measured when these adolescents were 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 24 years, we try to capture individual developmental trajectories of for instance coping, family climate, and parent-adolescent relationships, and see how these are related to outcomes at Age 21 and 24. These measures in emerging adulthood include, among other things, the attachment state of mind (AAI), identity, and intimacy. An intruiging dataset...
Ph.D. Thesis: The Detachment Debate: The Separation-Adjustment Link in Adolescence The general theme of this research project, which finally resulted in my PhD, defended in 2001 at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), is the detachment debate. The core question in this debate is whether emotional separation from parents in adolescence serves an adaptive function. The Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS; Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986) occupies a central place in this discussion. In our approach to this issue, we expanded the age boundaries and the measurement base of the debate. The core question was further approached in three different ways: (1) internal and external validity of the EAS, (2) moderators of the separation-adjustment link, and (3) developmental trajectories of separation from parents and adjustment. The full text of my Ph.D. thesis can be obtained by sending me a mail.
If interested: My academic genealogy!
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Recent conference
presentations
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- Beyers, W., Soenens, B., Wegge, S., & Vanopbroeke, J. (2022, August). What are overprotective parents so afraid of? Unique and interactive effects of parental separation anxiety and perceived societal threats. In S. Van Petegem (Chair), The sociocultural determinants of overprotective parenting during adolescence. Symposium conducted at the 18th biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA), Dublin, Ireland.
- Beyers, W., Schrooyen, C., Soenens, B., Morbée, S., Waterschoot, J., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2021, September). Bright and dark pathways between parental identity and burnout during Corona times: Need satisfaction and frustration as mediators . In K. Piotrowski (Chair), Disturbances in the parental identity development as a gate to parental burnout: Why does parenthood sometimes turn into a prison? Symposium conducted at the European Association for Developmental Psychology (EADP) Summer Tour, Linz, Austria.
- Mabbe, E., Vansteenkiste, M., Brenning, K., De Pauw, S., Beyers, W., Van der Kaap-Deeder, J., Dieleman, L., Mouratidis, A., & Soenens, B. (2019, August). The role of child personality in effects of psychologically controlling parenting: An examination at the within person level. In S. Branje (Convenor & Discussant), Daily physiological and relational processes in parent-child relationships during adolescence. Symposium conducted at the 19th European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Athens, Greece.
- Schrooyen, C., Beyers, W., Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2019, May). Parental burnout: The unique and interactive effects of general psychological need satisfaction, need frustration and parental identity. Poster presented at the 7th International Self-Determination Theory Conference (SDT2019), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Beyers, W., Devoogdt, L., & Plaskie, E. (2016, September). How parenting adds to romantic relationship quality in adolescence and young adulthood: The role of sexual insecurity investigated in a 4-wave longitudinal study in Belgium. In M. van Dijk (Chair), Developing the self in adolescence and young adulthood: Life tasks and changing relationships. Symposium conducted at the 15th biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA), La Barossa, Cadiz, Spain.
- Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Beyers, W., Verstuyf, J., & Assor, A. (2016, June). How to resist the sirens’ call? The role of an inner compass in protecting adolescents against problematic peer influences. In A. Assor (Chair) & M. Milyavskaya (Discussant), New insights on need supports promoting inner compass, reflective identity, and resilience in youth. Invited symposium conducted at the 6th International Conference on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), June 2-5, Victoria, Canada.
- Beyers, W., Van Petegem, S., Soenens, B., & Luyckx, K. (2016, March). Testing some of Erikson's ideas about a negative identity: Longitudinal associations between identity formation processes and self-determination. In F. Cok (Chair), Identity formation: Innovative findings from Europe. Invited symposium conducted at the 16th biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Baltimore MD, USA.
- Beyers, W., Veryser, E., Van Briel, J., Lapierre, K., & Vandenbussche, C. (2016, March). General and sexual peer pressure: Longitudinal relationships with sexual development during adolescence in European context. In A. M. del Rio-Gonzalez (Chair) & L. Crockett (Discussant), Social norms and adolescent sexual behavior: Four international perspectives. Symposium conducted at the 16th biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Baltimore MD, USA.
- Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., Van Petegem, S., & Chen, B. (2014, June). Autonomy in adolescence: A conceptual, developmental & cross-cultural perspective. Keynote presented at the EARA-SRA Summerschool 2014, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Beyers, W., Veryser, E., Verlee, E., Lapierre, K., Van Briel, J., & De la Rivière, L. (2014, March). Parent and peer influences on adolescents' sexual development. Can parents buffer peer influence and pressure? In D. van de Bongardt (Chair) & W. Meeus (Discussant), Romantic and sexual development from an interrelational perspective: Parents, peers, and partners. Symposium conducted at the 15th biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Austin TX, USA.
- Chen, B., Beyers, W., Van Petegem, S., Soenens, B. & Vansteenkiste M. (2013, September). Where do the cultural differences lie? Adolescents as active agents in the perception of and coping with parental control. In Ç. Kağıtçıbaşı & B. Pierrehumbert (Chairs), Attachment and autonomy/relatedness: What is universal, what is cultural? Invited symposium at the 16th European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Chen, B., Van Assche, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., & Beyers, W. (2013, June). When financial and environmental safety is at risk, does psychological need satisfaction still matter? Poster presented in the 5th Conference of Self-determination Theory, Rochester, NY.
- Chen, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Beyers, W., Ryan, R., Deci, E., Sheldon, K., Van Assche, J., Soenens, B., & Matos, L. (2012, July). Development and validation of the Questionnaire of Basic Psychological Needs across 5 countries. Paper presented at the 21st congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), Stellenbosch, South Africa.
- Luyckx, K., Goossens, L., Duriez, B., Klimstra, T., Van Petegem, S., & Beyers, W. (2012, July). Identity processes and self-esteem in high school and college students: Temporal sequences within a developmental-contextual framework. Poster presented at the 22nd biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD), Edmonton, AL, Canada.
- Schwartz, K. D., Bremner, D., & Beyers, W. (2012, July). Positive youth development: Exploring developmental strengths in three countries. Poster presented at the 22nd biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD), Edmonton, AL, Canada.
- Kins, E., Beyers, W., & Soenens, B. (2012, March). (2012, March). When the separation-individuation process goes awry: Distinguishing between dysfunctional dependence and dysfunctional independence. In D. Lapsley (chair) & K. C. McLean (Discussant), Functional and dysfunctional individuation: International perspectives. Symposium conducted at the 14th Biennal Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W. Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2012, March). Psychological control and the development of internalizing and externalizing problems: Psychological reactance as an explaining mechanism? In M. Scharf (Chair), Mom! Dad! Give me a break! Parental psychological control and adjustment in different cultures: The role of mediating variables. Symposium conducted at the 14th biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W. Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2012, March). Exploring the safe haven and the secure base: New insights in the relation between parenting, attachment and adolescent autonomy. Poster presented at the 14th biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), Vancouver, Canada.
- Kins, E., De Mol, J., & Beyers, W. (2011, October). "Why should I leave? It's easy and I don't have to pay for anything": A qualitative analysis of emerging adults' motives to live with the parents or to reside independently. In Kins E. (convenor), Dealing with uncertainty in the transition to adulthood: The role of the social network. Quantitative and qualitative data from Central and Southern Europe. Paper symposium conducted at the 5th Conference on Emerging Adulthood (CEA), Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2011, August). Clarifying the meaning and measurement of autonomy in adolescence: In search of an underlying structure . Poster presented at the 15th European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Bergen, Norway.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2011, August). Psychological reactance as an explaining mechanism for adolescent rebellion: Associations with autonomy, parenting, and psychosocial functioning . Paper presented at the 15th European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Bergen, Norway.
- Chen, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Beyers, W., Duriez, B., & Soenens, B. (2011, June). Beneficial effects of basic psychological needs not moderated by values, desires and financial satisfaction. Poster presented at the 6th Self Biennial International Conference (CSELF), Quebec, Canada.
- Chen, B., Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2011, April). Beyond (in)dependence of adolescents' daily decision making: Motivations behind and effects on need satisfaction and well-being. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montreal, Canada.
- Chen, B., Beyers, W., Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2011, April). Motivational underpinnings of identity styles in Chinese adolescents. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montreal, Canada.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2011, April). When separation-individuation theory meets self-determination theory: A person-oriented study on adolescent autonomy. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montreal, Canada.
- Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2011, April). On the interplay between intrusive parenting and adolescent problem behavior: Psychological reactance as an explaining mechanism? Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montreal, Canada.
- De Bolle, M., Beyers, W., & De Fruyt, F. (2011, April). Do personality traits shape the development of behavioral and emotional problems in children, or is it the other way around? In F. Motti & A. S. Masten (Chairs), Personality, vulnerability, and resilience in development: international perspectives. Symposium conducted at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montréal, Canada.
- Roeyers, H., De Schuymer, L., Beyers, W., & De Groote, I. (2011, April). The impact of preterm birth on early social growth and its relatedness with maternal intrusiveness. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Montreal, Canada.
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