Distressing Mother–Adolescent Relations and Psychological Well-Being in Low Income African American Families: Moderating Effects of Demanding Kin Relations

This study examined whether demanding relations with extended family moderated the association of distressing mother–adolescent relations with poorer social and psychological functioning. Participants were one hundred-thirty, low-income, African American mother–adolescent dyads. For mothers distressing mother–adolescent relations and demanding relations with extended family were linked to decrease in mother’s optimism and increase in depressive symptoms. Distressing mother–adolescent relations were also linked to increase in mother’s negative interpersonal relations. Distressing mother–adolescent relations were linked to decrease in adolescent’s self-esteem. Demanding kin relations exacerbated the link between distressing mother–adolescent relations and decrease in mother’s optimism. Demanding kin relations also exacerbated the link between distressing mother–adolescent relations and increase in adolescent’s problem behavior. Findings were discussed in terms of the need for more research on social networks of at-risk families.