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Linking Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Perceived Adolescent Emotional and Behavioral Problems to Adolescent
Qin Wang1,2, Yue Zhu3,4, Xin Wang5
1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Parent-adolescent agreement on difficulties influences adolescent problematic Internet use. Shared perceptions of hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems are key risk factors for increased Internet addiction symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health
Background:
- Problematic Internet use (PIU) in adolescents is a growing concern.
- Family perceptions of adolescent difficulties can influence PIU.
- Limited research exists on parent-adolescent agreement regarding these difficulties and their link to PIU.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parent-adolescent congruence/incongruence in perceived emotional and behavioral problems and subsequent PIU symptoms.
- To explore dyad-specific patterns (mother-adolescent vs. father-adolescent) in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study using three waves of data from 4,678 parent-adolescent dyads in China.
- Utilized Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS).
- Employed multilevel polynomial regression with response surface analysis.
Main Results:
- Modest parent-adolescent correspondence in problem perception was observed.
- Higher congruent total difficulties were linked to increased PIU in both dyad types.
- Congruent hyperactivity/inattention and adolescent-over-parent discrepancies showed consistent links to PIU. Dyad-specific effects were noted for emotional symptoms, peer problems, prosocial behavior (mother-adolescent), and conduct problems (father-adolescent).
Conclusions:
- Adolescent PIU is associated with both the severity of difficulties and the degree of shared perception between parents and adolescents.
- Integrating perspectives from adolescents, mothers, and fathers is crucial for identifying at-risk youth.
- Family communication and shared understanding of challenges may mitigate PIU risk.
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