Social-cognitive domain differences in adolescent disclosure to mothers and fathers and links with adjustment

Although differences in adolescent disclosure about their everyday activities to mothers and fathers are well-documented, less research has examined heterogeneity in disclosure, particularly to both parents jointly. Using latent profile analysis, this 1-year longitudinal study examined patterns of adolescent disclosure to both parents across personal, multifaceted, and prudential issues as defined within social-cognitive domain theory, as well as links to adjustment. The sample included 214 U.S. middle-class middle adolescents (M_age = 15.96, SD = 0.83, 103 males). Adolescents completed surveys measuring disclosure to and relationship quality with each parent and adjustment over 1 year (from 2014 to 2015). Three distinct profiles emerged. Adolescents in the traditional profile (N = 100) disclosed more to mothers than fathers, particularly about personal and multifaceted issues. Reserved profile adolescents (N = 72) had low levels of disclosure to both parents, with more disclosure about personal and multifaceted than prudential issues. Youth in the balanced profile (N = 42) had high levels of disclosure to both parents about all issues. They also had better relationships with parents at Wave 1, greater over time decreases in problem behavior compared to other profiles, and unique to this profile, increases in depressed mood over time. Normatively, adolescents in this sample disclosed more to mothers than to fathers about personal and multifaceted issues. Mixed effects on adjustment were found in adolescents disclosing at high levels to both parents, suggesting problems in autonomy development. More research should examine developmentally appropriate disclosure to both parents across domains. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).