Family Relationship Predictors of Parent-Adolescent Conflict: Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine how dimensions of socialization practice and relationship quality may function to manage or increase parent-adolescent conflict. Of particular concern was to examine the comparative efficacy of potential predictors of parent-adolescent conflict across three cultural groups consisting of samples from Mainland China, Russia, and the U.S. as well as across gender-of-parent/gender-of-adolescent dyads from each culture. Findings from a sample of 1,365 adolescents indicated that adolescents' perceptions of parental influences on parent-adolescent conflict differ across cultural groups and gender-of-adolescent. The use of punitive behavior by parents was the strongest and most consistent predictor of parent-adolescent conflict across all cultural groups and gender dyads, suggesting that a general pattern exists for punitiveness to increase parent-adolescent conflict cross-culturally. Perceptions of support, monitoring, conformity to parents, and autonomy from parents influenced parent-adolescent conflict within some of the cultures and selectively for adolescent boys and girls.