Adolescents’ perceptions of parenting behaviors mediate the association of maternal childhood abuse with adolescent externalizing behaviors.

These findings underscore the importance of adolescents' perceptions of parenting in understanding the effects of maternal childhood abuse on externalizing problems. Lack of findings for maternal neglect highlights the need to identify alternative mechanisms by which neglect may affect adolescent functioning. Interventions promoting positive mother-adolescent relationships could improve adolescent psychosocial outcomes.