A tri-directional examination of parental personality, parenting, and context on adolescent behaviors: a replication and extension in a new cultural context

Introduction
The aim of this study was to replicate the Tri-Directional Framework of Parent and Offspring Traits and Outcomes (TDF-POTO) in the new ground of the more traditional cultural context of Serbia. We tested the effects of: (a) parental dark traits on self-reported and adolescent-reported parenting, including the moderating role of harsh contextual characteristics (low socioeconomic status and high parental adverse childhood experiences); (b) parental dark traits and parenting on adolescent behavioral outcomes.

Methods
The sample included 239 parent-adolescent dyads from Serbia (68.6% mothers; 61.1% daughters; all White) with average age of 44.68 years for parents and 14.11 years for adolescents. The study was conducted in 2024 and it was cross-sectional with surveys administered to both parents and adolescents.

Results
Parental dark traits were associated with hostile, cold parenting, except for grandiose narcissism which showed a negative association with parental control. Harsh contextual characteristics moderated relationships between vulnerable narcissism and parental hostility. Only parental Machiavellianism showed significant effects on adolescent-reported parenting and behavioral outcomes. Among parenting dimensions, parental hostility showed positive associations with adolescent externalizing and internalizing behaviors and negative with prosocial behaviors, whereas parental control was negatively associated with externalizing behaviors. Surprisingly, self-reported parental warmth was positively associated with adolescent internalizing behaviors.

Conclusions
Results support the TDF-POTO in Serbian culture but highlight some culturally specific effects of harsh contexts and associations between parenting and adolescent behavioral outcomes.