Running head: Parenting behaviour and physiological responses The association between parenting behaviour and somatisation in adolescents explained by physiological responses in adolescents

Introduction. This study adds to knowledge on somatisation in adolescents by exploring its relation with parenting behaviour and the mediating/moderating role of physiological responses in adolescents to parenting behaviour. Method. Eighteen adolescents with high and eighteen adolescents with low somatisation scores and their mothers completed a discussion task, from which observed parenting behaviour scores were derived. Skin conductance in adolescents was measured before and during the discussion. Results. For adolescents with high levels of physiological responses, unadaptive parenting was related to a higher chance of high somatisation scores. For low physiologically responsive adolescents, the relation between parenting behaviour and somatisation was not significant. Conclusion. Parenting behaviour is not univocally related to somatisation in adolescents, but the association depends on physiological responses in adolescents.