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Maternal regulation and adolescent autonomy: Mother-daughter resolution of story conflicts

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Abstract

To examine how maternal regulation and daughters' striving for autonomy are reflected in dyadic communication, 32 eighth- and twelfth-grade daughters and their mothers were audiotaped as they discussed two stories with unresolved mother-daughter conflict themes (daughter's pregnancy, mother's financial problem). The tapes were analyzed for the quality of the conversational statements made while resolving the story conflicts. Results indicated that mothers regulated conversation through questions while daughters were more conceding. This pattern was less marked in older dyads. Five dyadic interaction styles were identified and examined in relation to grade level of the daughters. The results are discussed in light of issues of regulation and autonomy during adolescence and adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 48202, Detroit, Michigan

    Julie Hakim-Larson (Research Associate) & Cathy J. Hobart (Graduate Fellow)

Authors
  1. Julie Hakim-Larson
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  2. Cathy J. Hobart
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Received Ph.D. from Wayne State University. Research interests include cognitive/emotional development and parent-child interaction.

Received M.A. from Wayne State University. Research interests include the development of social cognition and social interaction.

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Hakim-Larson, J., Hobart, C.J. Maternal regulation and adolescent autonomy: Mother-daughter resolution of story conflicts. J Youth Adolescence 16, 153–166 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02138917

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02138917

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