Family Structure, Parent‐Child Communication, and Adolescent Participation in Family Consumer Tasks and Decisions

Abstract

From the theoretical perspective of consumer socialization, this exploratory study examined the single‐parent family context with respect to adolescent participation in family consumer activities. Specifically, the relationships between family structure, parent‐child communication as related to consumer issues, and adolescent participation in family consumer tasks and decisions were studied. Findings confirmed that family structure is related to parent‐child communication and to adolescent participation in tasks and decisions. Social style of parent‐child communication acts as a moderating variable in the relationship between family structure and adolescent participation in family consumer decisions.