Parent-adolescent Relationship Research Articles

Reciprocal Influences among Marital Relationship, Parent-Adolescent Relationship, and Youth Depressive Symptoms.

Drawing on family systems framework, this study investigated the reciprocal prospective associations between marital relationship quality, parent-adolescent closeness and conflict, and adolescent depressive symptoms among families in Taiwan. The family systems theory posits reciprocity between family subsystems. However, the direction of influences between marital relationship quality, parent-adolescent relationship quality and adolescent well-being may be more unidirectional in Chinese societies due to hierarchical family values. Data were from a longitudinal survey of 2,292 parent-youth dyads in the Taiwan Youth Project. Cross-lagged path models were used to test the bidirectional associations between marital relationship quality, parent-adolescent closeness and conflict, and adolescent depressive symptoms from ages 12 to 18. Our primary hypothesis that marital relationship quality predicts parent-adolescent relationship quality, which then predicts adolescent depressive symptoms in a unidirectional manner was partially substantiated. Moreover, marital relationship quality directly predicted fewer depressive symptoms from middle to late adolescence and indirectly from early to late adolescence via parent-adolescent relationship quality in middle adolescence. We also found that child depressive symptoms predicted less parent-adolescent closeness, and more conflicts which predicted poorer marital relationship quality, particularly in early adolescence. Extending the family systems theory, findings suggest that marital relationship quality plays a dominant role in the health and well-being of Taiwanese families, especially as adolescents mature. Results highlight the importance of testing theories in families from diverse cultures.

Parent-adolescent relationship and friendship quality: Psychological capital as mediator and neighborhood safety and satisfaction as moderator

Parent-adolescent relationship and friendship quality: Psychological capital as mediator and neighborhood safety and satisfaction as moderator

The Mediator Role of Fear of Missing Out in the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality and Problematic Internet Use.

The aim of the research is to examine the direct and indirect relationship between parent-adolescent relationship quality, problematic internet use, and fear of missing out. The sample consists of 547 university students (67% female and 33% male) aged between 17 and 23 (X = 22.15, SD = 2.86). Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality Scale, Fear of Missing Developments Scale, Problematic Internet Use Scale, and Personal Information Form were used to collect the study data. Research hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of the analysis supported the research hypothesis and showed that the fear of missing out developments had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between the parent-individual relationship quality and problematic internet use. Research analysis showed that negative interaction with parents and creating a negative atmosphere can increase FoMO experiences among adolescents, which might increase their problematic internet use. Limitations, conclusions, and directions for future research are discussed.

Discrepant Parent-Adolescent Reports of Parenting Practices: Associations with Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms.

Discrepancies in multi-informant reports of parenting practices represent a meaningful clinical construct that can be harnessed to predict adolescent mental health outcomes and shed light on the nature of parent-adolescent relationships. To date, however, no research has sought to examine discrepancies in perceptions of parenting practices among adolescents with histories of substance use disorders, a population for whom supportive parenting is a critical protective factor during the recovery process. This study examined parent-adolescent informant discrepancies of parenting practices and their associations with externalizing and internalizing symptomology among a sample of adolescents with substance use disorder histories. Data were analyzed from 294 adolescents (M adolescent age = 16 years; 45% female, 72% white) and their parents (87% female, 83% white) from a larger longitudinal study. Parenting practices of interest were positive parenting, inconsistent discipline, and poor monitoring. Polynomial regression analyses were used to test the discrepancy hypotheses. The results generally suggested null associations between single informant reports and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Discrepancies were noted, however, in multi-informant reports of positive parenting, such that higher levels of adolescent-reported positive parenting were associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms at high (but not low) levels of parent-reported positive parenting. Similarly, discrepancies were noted in multi-informant reports of poor monitoring, such that lower levels of adolescent-poor monitoring were associated with higher externalizing symptoms at low levels of parent-reported poor monitoring. The findings are discussed in terms of research and clinical implications of collecting and utilizing multi-informant data among clinical samples of adolescents with unique risk profiles.

Healthy emotions and relationships with teens-a guide for parents: An intervention development study of a parent-based intervention for adolescents with depression.

Problems in parent-adolescent relationships are a significant risk factor for the development of depression in adolescents. This paper describes the development of a novel and innovative intervention for parents of depressed adolescents that targets attachment-related parenting behaviors, including parent responses to adolescents' emotions (Healthy Emotions and Relationships with Teens-A Guide for Parents [HEART-P]; Reigstad, 2017) and provides results of an open pilot study that was conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. 15 parents/parent dyads of adolescents (age 12-18) with a depression diagnosis (14mothers, and one father) participated in a 10-week open trial of HEART-P. Data regarding acceptability and feasibility were collected. Self-report measures of parenting, stress, family relationships, and adolescent depression were also completed by parents at baseline, week 10, and 2months post-intervention. Parents completed the intervention with 100% adherence to the protocol and expressed high levels of satisfaction. Parents reported reductions in parenting stress, improvement in the quality of their relationship with their adolescent, and improvement in the perception of their parenting skills, with effect sizes in the medium to large range. Adolescents reported reductions in depression, with effect sizes in the small to medium range. Outcomes appear positive and promising, and the intervention was feasible to implement and acceptable to families. Conducting a full-scale randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of this newly developed intervention is warranted and timely given the public health need for improved depression treatment outcomes.

Does Parenting Moderate the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescents’ Future Orientation?

Adolescents who think and act towards the future are more likely to thrive. This future orientation may, however, be affected by adversity and the parenting they receive. The influence of cumulative adversity, and of parenting in the context of adversity, is yet to be explored. We investigated whether adolescents’ future orientation is associated with experiences of singular and multiple types of adversity, and if parenting moderates these associations. Data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children K Cohort (n = 1177; 51.5% male; aged 16–17 years) were used to measure future orientation at age 16–17, the number of adversities experienced from age 4/5 to age 14/15 (parental separation and divorce, household substance use problem, household mental health condition, domestic violence), and parenting received at age 14/15 (warmth, hostility, communication, monitoring). Relationships and moderations were tested using stepwise moderated logistic regression analyses, controlling for demographic characteristics. Adolescents were at risk for low future orientation if they had experienced singular or multiple types of adversity, higher hostility, lower communication, and lower monitoring. We did not find a moderating effect of parenting. These results indicate that while young people are less likely to have future-related thoughts and actions if they have experienced singular or multiple types of adversity, their future orientation may be supported by effective parenting and non-hostile parent-adolescent relationships. Young people who experience both adversity and poor parenting may be at higher risk than others. Further investigation is warranted, to explore the causal relationships between adverse experiences, parenting, and future orientation.

Belonging to Three Worlds: Somali Adolescent-Parent Relationships in the United States and Implications for Tobacco Prevention.

Immigrant family relationships help to buffer the adolescent adoption of health risk behaviors but can be strained by post-immigration structural and cultural barriers. This study qualitatively examines how Somali adolescent–parent relationship factors influence Somali adolescent tobacco use and identifies areas for further family support to prevent Somali adolescent tobacco use. We conducted fifteen key informant interviews with professionals serving the Somali community in clinical, educational, religious, or other community organization roles in one Minnesota metropolitan region. Data were collected and analyzed using approaches rooted in Grounded Theory. Key informants contrasted parenting experiences in Somalia with those in the United States and described how four key factors—structural and cultural barriers, multicultural identity formation, evolving parental expectations and responsibilities, and shifting family resources and support—have influenced Somali parent–child relationship quality and function following immigration. Informants shared the implications of these factors on parental ability to address adolescent tobacco use and discussed potential strategies to support parents that fell into two categories: assisting parents in adapting their parenting approaches to a new context and supporting knowledge and skill development in addressing tobacco use prevention specifically. Incorporating strategies that support Somali parents in their evolving parental roles and attend to structural and cultural barriers to tobacco prevention are essential to consider when developing family-centered tobacco prevention interventions in this population.

Parent-Adolescent Relationship: Impact on Senior High School Students in the National Capital Region

Adolescence is a critical developmental period that requires parents and youth to renegotiate their relationships (Laursen et al., 2009). Despite being an individual who can take increasing responsibility, an adolescent still needs more protection and guidance (Sawyer, et al., 2018), therefore, the relationship with their parents is crucial. This study explored the impact of parent-adolescent relationships on the academic outcome of Senior High School students in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, focusing on 4 of its dimensions in terms of the adolescents' (a) social interaction, (b) independence, (c) self-expression, and (d) academic performance. Bodies of related literature were also reviewed to assure the reliability and accuracy of this study. Results showed that there is no significant relationship between the parent-adolescent relationship and the General Weighted Average of the students. Despite that, reviewed literature indicated that adolescents who had high levels of parent-adolescent attachment were more likely to have high levels of self-worth, which in turn enhanced their academic engagement and then improved high school grades (Chen, 2017). The researchers recommend future researchers fill the gaps this research has by conducting a study in a larger sample size to give more reliable results with greater precision and power. Future studies about the parent-adolescent relationship may focus on other dimensions aside from the four dimensions explored in this study.

3. Impact of Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality and Sexual Health Communication on Parental Willingness to Support Adolescent Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV: Lessons for Post-Pandemic Sexual Health Interventions

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and highly effective method of HIV prevention, yet PrEP use among US adolescents at risk for HIV has been low. Sexual health communication between parents and adolescents has been shown to decrease teen pregnancy and increase condom use, but data are scarce on the impact of communication on PrEP use. We wanted to understand parents’ perspectives on PrEP and the role of parent-adolescent relationship quality and sexual health communication on parents’ willingness to support their adolescent using PrEP (“PrEP willingness”), to inform post-pandemic interventions to improve PrEP uptake among adolescents at risk for HIV.

Family Environment, Heritage Language Profiles, and Socioemotional Well-being of Mexican-origin Adolescents with First Generation Immigrant Parents.

Although Mexican-origin youth with first-generation immigrant parents are relatively good at retaining their heritage language of Spanish, limited research has been conducted on their Spanish language development during adolescence. From three-wave longitudinal data across six years (Nwave1 = 604, Mage.wave1 = 12.91, 54% female), distinct groups of adolescents with consistently high, improved, declined, and consistently low Spanish proficiencies were identified. Family relationship quality was more predictive of adolescents' Spanish proficiency than family language environment. The benefits of Spanish proficiency were consistent across adolescents' ethnic identity, resilience, and life meaning. More research and practical attention to parent-adolescent relationships is needed to capitalize on the continued plasticity of adolescents' Spanish language development and to promote consequent positive outcomes.

Adolescent attachment to parents and peers in singletons and twins born with assisted and natural conception.

STUDY QUESTIONDoes adolescent attachment to parents and peers differ between singletons and twins born with ART or natural conception (NC)?SUMMARY ANSWERAdolescent attachment anxiety with the father was higher among NC singletons than among ART and NC twins, whereas attachment avoidance with the father was higher in ART singletons than in NC singletons and NC twins. No differences were found in attachment to the mother, best friend or romantic partner.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYMost studies have not found differences between ART and NC singletons in parent–adolescent relationships, but twin relationships may be more at risk. No previous study has examined all four groups in the same study, or specifically looked at attachment relationships.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThis was an 18-year, prospective and controlled longitudinal study with families of 496 ART singletons, 101 ART twin pairs, 476 NC singletons and 22 NC twin pairs. Families were recruited during the second trimester of pregnancy; the ART group was recruited from five infertility clinics in Finland and the control group was recruited from a hospital outpatient clinic during a routine visit.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSMothers and fathers gave background information for this study during pregnancy, and during the child’s first year and early school age (7–8 years). For the ART group, infertility characteristics and prenatal medical information was also obtained from the patient registry of the infertility clinics. Children (originally 50% girls) filled in electronic questionnaires related to their attachment to mother, father, best friend and romantic partner (Experiences in Close Relationships—Relationship Structures) at 17–19 years of age.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEAdolescent attachment anxiety to father was higher in NC singletons than in ART twins, P = 0.004 and marginally higher than in NC twins, P = 0.06. Adolescent attachment avoidance to father was higher in ART singletons than in NC singletons, P = 0.006 and marginally higher than in NC twins, P = 0.055.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThe sample size was small especially in the NC twin group and there was drop-out over the 18-year time period, especially among boys and families with lower parental education level. The study only included native Finnish-speaking families. The results could differ in a more diverse population. ART singletons were younger and had fewer siblings than ART twins and NC children, and ART and NC twins had more newborn health risks than ART and NC singletons.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSThe study adds to a growing body of evidence that neither ART treatments nor being a twin places mother–child relationships or peer relationships at long-term risk. However, in our study, which was the first to examine both ART and twinhood simultaneously, we found that there may be more problems in father–adolescent relationships, but only in ART singletons and only related to attachment avoidance. Our findings suggest that men, as well as women, should receive enough support in pre- and peri-natal health care during and after infertility treatments.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)This study was funded by Academy of Finland (grant number 2501308988), the Juho Vainio Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. The authors report no conflict of interest.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A.

The relationship between parental availability and aggression in the 21stcentury: Studies among adolescents in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Manifestation of aggression among adolescents could be related to poor parental availability. In this study, the relationship between parental availability and aggression in the twenty-first century among adolescents in Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA) Anambra State, Nigeria was investigated. Two research questions guided the study. The researchers adopted a correlation research design. The sample for study comprised of 800 respondents randomly selected from eight (8) secondary schools in the LGA. The instruments for data collection were adopted questionnaire on aggression and questionnaire for parental availability designed by the researchers and validated by two experts in test construction. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha statistics with an index of 0.78 for parental availability and 0.85 for aggression. Pearson correlation was used to analyse the collected data. The results of the study revealed that parental availability (communication and supervision) reduced aggression among adolescents. It was therefore concluded that establishing a strong parent adolescent relationship in the families could be an immeasurable help in raising well-adjusted and successful adolescents. It was recommended that parents should always have in mind the need for family attachment and as such provide opportunity for family meeting where they will listen to their children’ views and give them corrections and some pieces of advice where necessary. In addition, parents are to visit their children’s schools from time to time to meet their teachers who will help them in assessing their behaviours.

The impact of discrimination on parent–adolescent relationships in U.S. Mexican families

The Family Stress Model (FSM) posits that environmental stressors disrupt key parenting and family processes via increases in parents’ psychological distress. Few studies, however, have examined whether Latinx parents’ perceptions of discrimination, a salient environmental stressor for Latinx populations, disrupt parent–child relationships. It is particularly important to examine acceptance and conflict in the parent–child relationship during children’s adolescence as this is a time when the parent–child relationship can be particularly vulnerable. The current study examined whether parents’ perceptions of discrimination predicted lower acceptance and higher conflict in the parent–adolescent relationship, via elevated parental depressive symptoms. Data were from a longitudinal study of 749 U.S. Mexican families with adolescents (48.9% female; mean age = 10.42, SD = 0.55 at Wave 1) and were examined using path analyses. Mother’s discrimination experiences predicted higher levels of mother-reported mother–adolescent conflict through higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms. Additionally, maternal discrimination directly predicted declines in mother-reported acceptance for boys, but not for girls. Paternal discrimination experiences were positively associated with paternal depressive symptoms, but paternal depressive symptoms were not associated with father–adolescent relationship processes. The current study underscored discrimination as a salient stressor for U.S. Mexican mothers’ and fathers’ psychological wellbeing, and, for mothers, these experiences may influence their relationships with their adolescents.

Parent-adolescent relationships, peer relationships, and adolescent mobile phone addiction: The mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction

IntroductionPrior studies have shown that parent-adolescent relationships and peer relationships may be important factors associated with adolescent mobile phone addiction (MPA). The present study aims to further explore the direct effects of parent-adolescent and peer relationships on adolescent MPA as well as the indirect effects through the mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs satisfaction. MethodsOur sample consisted of 1766 Chinese adolescents (53.10% male; Mage = 13.33, SD = 1.94, range from 10 to 18 years) who completed questionnaires regarding parent–adolescent relationships, peer relationships, psychological needs satisfaction, and MPA. SPSS 24.0 was used to analyze correlations among variables and Mplus 7.4 was used to test the structural equation model in this study. Results(1) positive parent-adolescent relationships were negatively associated with adolescent MPA, while peer relationships did not show a significant association with MPA; (2) autonomy and competence needs satisfaction significantly mediated the effects of parent-adolescent and peer relationships on MPA, while the mediating role of relatedness need satisfaction between parent-adolescent and peer relationships and MPA was not significant; (3) the mediating effect of competence need satisfaction between peer relationships and MPA was significantly stronger than that between parent-adolescent relationships and MPA. ConclusionsThis study explored the different mechanisms by which parent-adolescent and peer relationships influence adolescent MPA. These discoveries may contribute to intervention and prevention programs for adolescent MPA.

Relationships between Parental Attachment, Peer Attachment and Stress among School-going Adolescents in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Parent-adolescent relationship has been viewed as a crucial factor in the outcome of stress among adolescents. In addition to the stressors in home environment, school-going adolescents spend most of their waking hours within the school environment which also potentially contribute to stress. Empirical investigation has been very scanty with regards to the relationships among stress, parental and peer attachments among school-going adolescents in Nigeria. This study was a cross-sectional survey which drew participants, using a stratified random sampling technique, from three senatorial zones of Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria. Data were collected using a standardized, reliable and valid measures of the study variables among the 372 school-going adolescents. Results showed that parental attachment (r = -.107, p<.05) and peer attachment (r = -.190; p<.01) were significantly associated with stress. Results also indicated that parental attachment and peer attachment, significantly predicted stress. Peer attachment was found to be the strongest predictor of stress (?= -.24, p< .01). Practically, the study offered parents/guardians, home managers and educational institutions useful suggestions on reducing and mitigating the effects of stress. Stress reduction through healthy parental and peer attachment can be enhanced by organizing school-based psycho-educational with focus on parental and peer attachment.

Parental Mediation of Cell Phone Use and Adolescent Autonomy

Adolescents’ cell phone use occurs during significant developmental shifts in parent–adolescent relationships, as adolescents’ drives for independence can conflict with parents’ desires for connection. This study examines parental mediation of cell phone use within an interpersonal and family communication framework. Previous mediation research has not examined connections with social penetration theory, uncertainty reduction theory, relational dialectics theory, and communication privacy management, each of which has conceptual links to parental mediation. Cell phone mediation reflects the broader phenomenon of disclosure in interpersonal relationships. The extent to which individuals disclose information is influenced by personal desires for autonomy and connection, privacy and intimacy, which are components of interpersonal and family communication theories. This study explores the notion that families develop norms and expectations about cell phones that might influence parental mediation. Results indicate that perceptions of parent–child relationships and family expectations for cell phone use both significantly influence mediation.

Embracing Race, Resisting Oppression: African American Parents as Experienced Guides for Navigating Racial Oppression: Dismantling Systems of Racism and Oppression during Adolescence.

This study examined how discrimination experiences, beliefs, and coping in middle adolescence contributed to heterogeneity in African American parent-adolescent relationship (PAR) profiles three years later. Data were from the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study in which 589 African American caregivers (92% female; Mage = 39.15, SD = 6.72; range = 27-74 years old) were interviewed when youth were in 8th and 11th grades. We used previously identified profiles of ethnic-racial socialization, general parenting practices, and relationship quality: No-nonsense High Socializers, Indulgent Average Socializers, Unengaged Silent Socializers, and Authoritative Cultural Socializers. Results indicated that parents' discrimination experiences, racial coping self-efficacy, and racial coping socialization when youth were in the 8th grade predicted membership in PAR profiles three years later controlling for youth gender, parent marital status, and family socioeconomic status.

Revisiting the hypothesis that friends buffer against diminished self-esteem arising from poor quality parent-adolescent relationships: A replication study.

This replication study revisited conclusions from 2 previous investigations (Gauze, Bukowski, Aquan-Assee, & Sippola, 1996; van Aken & Asendorpf, 1997), which suggested that support from friends buffers against diminished self-esteem arising from poor quality relationships with mothers during the transition into adolescence. The aim of this replication study was to conduct an independent test of these findings with both concurrent and longitudinal data. Concurrent data for replication analyses were drawn from 4 projects, involving a total of 959 boys and 1,119 girls (ages 10 to 14) from Canada and the United States. Three samples reported participant ethnic descent: Africa (12.1%), Asia (5.6%), Europe (65.3%), Latin America (12.1%), and Native North America (0.9%). Child and mother reports of mother-child relationship quality assayed (a) maternal social support (in 3 data sets), and (b) family cohesion and adaptability (in 2 data sets). Main effects were replicated but hypothesized buffering effects were not. Maternal social support and friend social support were independently associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrently, but not longitudinally. Family cohesion (but not adaptability) was associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrently and longitudinally. Friend social support did not moderate associations between mother-child relationship quality and adolescent self-esteem, concurrently or longitudinally. The findings are consistent with a cumulative effects model wherein friends uniquely contribute to adolescent self-worth, over and above the contribution of mothers. The findings do not support claims that friends moderate associations between mother-child relationship quality and adolescent self-esteem. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Familial Mentor Support and Black Youths’ Connectedness to Parents Across Adolescence

This mixed method study explored whether and how familial mentor support may have influenced the parent-adolescent relationship, and whether the impact of familial mentor support on the parent-adolescent relationship may have differed across adolescents’ developmental stage. Findings from analyses of survey data from 106 Black adolescents indicated that familial mentor support may be equally beneficial for youths’ connectedness to parents across developmental stage. Interview data from a subset of 12 adolescents, their primary caregivers, and familial mentors were analyzed to better understand how familial mentors supported the parent-adolescent bond and whether the nature of mentor support differed between early and middle adolescents. Qualitative findings indicated that mentors supported the parent-adolescent relationship by acting as sounding boards; coaching positive communication strategies; and promoting understanding between youth and their parents. Additionally, findings indicated that familial mentors may be attuned to developmental changes experienced by their adolescent relatives.

Parental Corporal Punishment, Peer Victimization, and Aggressive Adolescent Behavior: The Moderating Effect of Parent-Adolescent Relationship

Parental Corporal Punishment, Peer Victimization, and Aggressive Adolescent Behavior: The Moderating Effect of Parent-Adolescent Relationship