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Parent-adolescent conflict in early adolescence
Barbara N Allison1, Jerelyn B Schultz
1Department of Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University, 208 Sandels, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA. ballison@mailer.fsu.edu
Adolescence
|July 3, 2004
Summary
Early adolescent conflict with parents is frequent and varies by issue and gender. Parent-daughter conflicts are more common than parent-son conflicts, with gender-typed issues observed.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Adolescent Behavior
Background:
- Parent-adolescent conflict is a common developmental phenomenon.
- Understanding conflict dynamics is crucial for healthy adolescent development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parent-adolescent conflict in early adolescence (ages 11-14).
- To identify specific issues, frequency, and intensity of conflict.
- To examine gender differences in parent-adolescent conflict.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 357 youths in Grades 6-8.
- Utilized the Issues Checklist (Prinz et al., 1979).
- Analyzed conflict frequency, intensity, and gender patterns.
Main Results:
- Frequent parent-adolescent conflicts occur over numerous issues during early adolescence.
- Conflict peaked in Grade 7 between parents and sons.
- Parent-daughter conflicts were consistently more frequent than parent-son conflicts.
- Gender-typed conflict patterns reflecting traditional stereotypes were observed in parent-daughter exchanges.
Conclusions:
- Conflict frequency and intensity vary significantly across different issues.
- Examining conflict specifics, including gender, is vital for understanding adolescent development.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering gender roles in family conflict research.