Abstract
Objectives. – The objectives of this research were to examine the relationship existing between family ideals and adolescents'feelings of responsibility about their health. Method. – Eight hundred and fourteen ”healthy” adolescents completed the Olson's Questionnaire measuring both their perception of the ideal family and their actual original family of origin, as well as the health multidimensional questionnaire. They were compared to a sample of 358 adolescents suffering from mental disorders. Results. – While our findings on the relationship between family of origin and locus of control over health issues replicate those already described in previous research, the ideal family brings about new influences. Such is the case for the influence of the ideal family's cohesion on the internal–external locus of control and on the external attribution of power. Such is also the case for level of adaptability on externally attributed power. Conclusions. – External attribution of power seems to be a major factor in modifying how adolescents approach health issues. A complex explanatory model must not only take into account the evolution of cohesion in the family of origin, the influence of age on this evolution, but also what kind of ideal family transactions an adolescent supports, as well as how this ideal develops with age.
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