Adolescent Time Alone With a Provider: Adolescent-Mother Dyads' Perspectives on Its Role to Support Emerging Autonomy

The AAP recommends that adolescents have time to speak alone with their health care provider, although adolescent time alone is increasingly less supported. In addition to allowing adolescents space to be more forthcoming, this time alone may have additional developmental benefits.

Adolescent-mother dyads were invited from an adolescent medicine clinic in Dallas, Texas, to complete a semistructured joint interview. As part of the interview, dyads discussed the portion of the visit where adolescents have time alone with the provider. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded through an iterative approach.

Within the 11 dyads, the adolescents ranged in age from 13-20 years, and adolescents and mothers primarily self-identified as White or Hispanic. Dyads noted adolescent time alone allowed for increased autonomy in medical decision-making and an independent relationship with their provider. Dyads were concerned that adolescent discomfort and inexperience could lead to decreased self-advocacy in the medical visit.

From the perspective of dyads, adolescent time alone with a medical provider fosters autonomy and supports the transition from pediatrics to adult medicine. Concerns about adolescent discomfort and limited self-advocacy can be addressed by openly communicating with the dyad that this time alone will have a developmental approach and will support emerging autonomy.