Adolescent and Parental Contributions to Parent–Adolescent Hostility Across Early Adolescence

Early adolescence is characterized by increases in parent–adolescent hostility, yet little is known about what predicts these changes. Utilizing a fairly large sample (N = 416, 51 % girls, 91 % European American), this study examined the conjoint and unique influences of adolescent social anxiety symptoms and parental intrusiveness on changes in parent–adolescent hostility across early adolescence. Higher mother and father intrusiveness were associated with increased mother- and father–adolescent hostility. An examination of reciprocal effects revealed that mother- and father–adolescent hostility predicted increased mother and father intrusiveness. Significant associations were not substantiated for adolescent social anxiety symptoms. These findings suggest that intrusive parenting has important implications for subsequent parent–adolescent interactions and that similar patterns may characterize some aspects of mother- and father–adolescent relationships.