Parent–adolescent interactions and psychosocial risk in adolescents: an analysis of communication, support and gender

doi:10.1006/jado.1997.0103

Journal of Adolescence

Volume 20, Issue 5, October 1997, Pages 473-487

https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.1997.0103 Get rights and content

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to verify the correlation between family functioning and the presence of psychosocial risk in adolescents. The sample of 279 intact families with a late adolescent and their parents completed self-report instruments in order to evaluate support and communication in parent-adolescent relationships. An index of risk was constructed with the MAUT technique. Data analysis was conducted on individual and relational dyadic levels. It was found that: (a) a supportive relationship and adequate communication between parents and adolescents are correlated to the absence or presence of psychosocial risk; and (b) the father in this phase of life is a reliable source of information regarding his relationship with his children and their psychosocial adjustment.

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Research has identified several familial factors that are protective against increased adolescent substance use. For example, emotional support (Marta, 1997), open and frequent communication with parents (Stronski, Ireland, Michaud, Narring, & Resnick, 2000), engaging in family activities (Wang, Mattew, Bellamy, & James, 2005), parental rules for substance use (van der Vorst, Engels, Meeus, Dekovic, & Van Leeuwe, 2005) and parental monitoring (Kosterman, Hawkins, Guo, Catalano, & Abbot, 2000) are all associated with decreased substance use in adolescence. Further, parental monitoring mitigates the relationship between externalizing behaviors and later heavy alcohol use (Fallu et al., 2010).
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^☆: Reprint requests and correspondence should be addressed to E. Marta, Centre of Study and Research on Family, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 20123 Milan, Italy.

^☆☆: Olson, D. H.McCubbin, H. I.Barnes, H.Larsen, A.Huxen, M.Wilson, M.

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Regular ArticleParent–adolescent interactions and psychosocial risk in adolescents: an analysis of communication, support and gender☆,☆☆

Abstract

Parental support and control as predictor of adolescent drinking, delinquency, and related problem behaviors

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Parent–adolescent communication

Family Inventories

Parent adolescent communication and the circumflex model

Child Development

Parent socialization factors and adolescent drinking behaviors

Journal of Marriage and the Family

When ego threats lead to self-regulation failure: Negative consequences of high self-esteem

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Peer relationships of adolescent daughters: A reflection of relationship patterns

Family Relations

Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives

Developmental Psychology

The Family Life Cycle: A framework for family therapy

The family life cycle

“Structured contradictions”: Changes in status transition patterns and their implications for behavioural problems in adolescent

Unpublished Manuscript

Adolescenza. Progresso e degrado del processo di individuazione familiare [Adolescence. Progress and degradation of the family individuation process]

Parent–child relationships in the transition to adolescence: Continuity and change in interaction, affect, and cognition

L' Età incompiuta [The unfinished age]

The structure of family paradigms: An analytical model of family variation

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

La famiglia come attore e vittima di rischio [The family as actor and victim of risk]

Quarto Rapporto sulla famiglia in Italia [The fourth survey on family in Italy]

Effects of family environment and parent–child relationships on school adjustment during the transition to early adolescence

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Multiattribute utility measurement

Multiattribute evaluation

Family systems and social support: A test of the effects of cohesion and adaptability on the functioning of parents and adolescents

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Alternative strategies for creating “relational” family data

Family Process

Parental behavior and adolescent self-esteem

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Families and adolescents: A review of the 1980s

Journal of Marriage and the Family

Vulnerability and resilience in adolescence: Views from the family

Journal of Early Adolescent

Regular Article
Parent–adolescent interactions and psychosocial risk in adolescents: an analysis of communication, support and gender☆,☆☆