Harsh Parenting Reduces Self-Esteem of Adolescents via the Mediation of Interpersonal Sensitivity: The Modulating Role of Dispositional Mindfulness

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of self-esteem, but for many adolescents, self-esteem is compromised by harsh parenting disciplines which are still heavily used. Research into the mechanisms underlying adolescent self-esteem and the strategies that boost self-esteem thus has become very important. Based on the sociometric theory of self-esteem and the attachment theory, the current study explores the role of interpersonal sensitivity and dispositional mindfulness in the effect of harsh parenting on adolescents’ self-esteem. Questionnaire survey on 1320 Chinese adolescents showed that the detrimental effect of harsh parenting could be mediated by interpersonal sensitivity, and this mediation effect was moderated by dispositional mindfulness, participants with higher dispositional mindfulness showed stronger mediation effect than those with lower dispositional mindfulness. Our findings highlight the impact of harsh parenting and the role of interpersonal sensitivity in shaping adolescents’ self-esteem, and suggest the feasibility of mindful intervention programs that take interpersonal sensitivity into account when building the self-worth of adolescents.