How do family relationships change during adolescence? Discrepancies between the perceptions of adolescents and their parents

This contribution deals with the development and-structure of relationships among the members of families with children in early adolescence. Findings obtained in a 4 1/2year longitudinal study are presented. In each of the four annually conducted surveys, a total of 196 adolescents as well as their parents (196 mothers and 195 fathers) participated in semistructured interviews on family relationships and problems and completed the FES (Family Environment Scale), which assesses family climate. The longitudinal analyses revealed that both the adolescents and their parents unanimously perceived that definite changes in family climate and familial relationships occurred during the period under investigation, There was a uniform perception that changes concerned the stronger distancing of the adolescents from the parents and an increased emphasis on adolescent independence had taken place. However, there were also clear differences between the viewpoints of the adolescents and their parents. Parents, for example, reported a stronger decrease in family cohesion and in the extent to which rules and organization determined family life. The adolescents, by contrast, did nor perceive any changes in the affective climate, yet perceived an increase in structure and parental control over the four years. Mothers generally reported higher rates of conflicts and also experienced a stronger emotional distancing than the adolescents or the fathers.