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What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Communication and Informatics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 19622

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mimma Tafà

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome, 00136 Rome, Italy
Interests: dopamine transporter; genotype; psychopathological risk; temperament; feeding interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Clinicians and researchers have shown, from a multidisciplinary perspective, how a variety of psychosocial factors can contribute to an individual's dysfunctional development.

In fact, the current literature agrees that it is the quality of the parent/child family interaction that is able to influence the psychological well-being of the adolescent, more than the family structure.

In particular, the literature agrees that conflict, parental stress and parental psychopathological characteristics can compromise the growth of children.

On the contrary, a good quality of marital adaptability was found to be an important protective factor for a child's emotional-behavioral development, which can mitigate the adverse effects exerted by risk factors.

Recent studies have highlighted that children in families in which the parental couple show high levels of mutual support and adaptive dyadic coping strategies with respect to daily stress management have better social skills and fewer emotional-behavioral problems.

Furthermore, the current COVID-19 pandemic, imposing intense cohabitation between family members, could affect the characteristics of these relationships.

This Special Issue will welcome research and documents, as well as systematic reviews or meta-analysis, within a multidisciplinary perspective on the aforementioned topic in different family structures (close, separated, blended families, etc.).

Dr. Mimma Tafà
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • parent–adolescent relationships
  • different family structure
  • closed/separated/blended families
  • multidisciplinary perspective
  • family and adolescent
  • marital conflict
  • parental stress
  • parental psychopatological characteristics
  • protective and risk factors
  • adolescent growth

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 371 KiB  
Article
Parent–Child Relationships, Digital Media Use and Parents’ Well-Being during COVID-19 Home Confinement: The Role of Family Resilience
by Marina Everri, Mattia Messena, Finiki Nearchou and Laura Fruggeri
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315687 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4098
Abstract
Research has provided substantial evidence on the role of parents’ well-being in the quality of parent–child relationships and children’s adjustment. Parents’ stress and parental couple conflict have been linked to children’s adverse developmental outcomes. However, little is known about the factors that affect [...] Read more.
Research has provided substantial evidence on the role of parents’ well-being in the quality of parent–child relationships and children’s adjustment. Parents’ stress and parental couple conflict have been linked to children’s adverse developmental outcomes. However, little is known about the factors that affect parents’ well-being when coping with multiple stressors such as those brought by the recent COVID-19 global pandemic. Our study intended to examine the predictors of parental well-being by looking at the contextual factors of COVID-19 home confinement, i.e., the use of digital media and parents’ domestic workload, and family resilience in two countries: Ireland and Italy. Additionally, the age and number of children were controlled as potential variables impacting parents’ well-being. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was applied. The results showed that family resilience was a very strong predictor of parents’ well-being after controlling for any other variable. Parental couples’ conflict over the use of technology predicted lower levels of parents’ well-being, while, notably, parent child-conflict and domestic workload were not associated with parents’ well-being. Additionally, the age of children did play a role: the higher the mean age of children in the family the better the parents’ well-being. The findings are discussed in the light of cross-country differences and their implications for research and practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?)
14 pages, 340 KiB  
Article
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Student Distress and School Dropout: A Comparison between the Perspectives of Preadolescents, Parents, and Teachers
by Maria Luisa Pedditzi, Roberta Fadda and Loredana Lucarelli
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12589; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912589 - 2 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2822
Abstract
This study investigates the principal risk and protective factors associated with student distress and school dropout in a group of preadolescents, through a qualitative and quantitative comparison between the perspectives of students, parents, and teachers. We administered a questionnaire to evaluate student distress [...] Read more.
This study investigates the principal risk and protective factors associated with student distress and school dropout in a group of preadolescents, through a qualitative and quantitative comparison between the perspectives of students, parents, and teachers. We administered a questionnaire to evaluate student distress and school dropout in a middle school (student’s age range 13–15 years). We afterwards analyzed the responses of students at risk of school dropout. We also administered a semi-structured interview with their parents and their teachers. The results indicated significant levels of school distress in students (Collective Distress > 8.75) and a problematic relationship between parents and students (22.42%). We also found a problematic relationship between teachers and students (24.39%). The main protective factor of student distress and school drop-out indicated by the students was a more sensitive and supportive relationship with both parents and teachers. On the contrary, parents and teachers indicated as possible causes of school distress and drop-out the intrinsic students’ motivation or other external factors associated with the community. The results of our study highlight the importance to apply a multidimensional and transactional psycho-educational model, in which the relationship between the students and their caretaker plays a major role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?)
14 pages, 586 KiB  
Article
Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers
by Stefania Muzi, Guyonne Rogier and Cecilia Serena Pace
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074068 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4264
Abstract
Adolescents’ depressive social withdrawal is a relevant concern for mental health professionals, and it is widespread among community teenagers in form of subclinical symptoms. Different studies suggest that insecure attachment representations increase the adolescents’ likelihood to show symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., loneliness). This [...] Read more.
Adolescents’ depressive social withdrawal is a relevant concern for mental health professionals, and it is widespread among community teenagers in form of subclinical symptoms. Different studies suggest that insecure attachment representations increase the adolescents’ likelihood to show symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., loneliness). This study explored the effect of the general attachment internal working model (IWM) and the independent and cumulative effects of the specific attachment representations of parents—in terms of secure base/safe haven—and peers on adolescents’ withdrawal. Additionally, the mediation of peer attachment on the effect of parental attachment on symptoms was explored. All analyses were conducted controlling for the difference between teenagers living with parents together or divorced/separated, as children of divorcees are considered more exposed to stressors. Ninety-one adolescents aged 12–17 years old were assessed online during the COVID pandemic period, employing the Youth Self-Report to assess withdrawal and the Friends and Family Interview to assess attachment-general IWM and attachment-specific representations. Results show no influence of parents together/separated or of the general IWM on withdrawal, but higher parent secure base/safe haven and peer attachment cumulatively predicted 10–21% less withdrawal. Moreover, more positive peer attachment mediated 61% of the effect of the parental secure attachment on withdrawal, revealing an indirect effect of parental attachment on withdrawal through peer attachment. In conclusion, both parents and peers are influential on adolescent mental health, and fostering positive peer relationships can buffer the effect of dysfunctional family relationships on teenagers’ withdrawal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?)
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Review

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11 pages, 375 KiB  
Review
What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship between Parents and Adolescents
by Mimma Tafà, Fabrizia Bracaglia, Lucio Inguscio and Nicola Carone
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010383 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4094
Abstract
The literature indicates a variety of factors that contribute to adolescent well-being: among these, the parent–adolescent relationship has a key role. The present article offered an overview of studies on parent–adolescent relationships across diverse family forms, not limited to the traditional family but [...] Read more.
The literature indicates a variety of factors that contribute to adolescent well-being: among these, the parent–adolescent relationship has a key role. The present article offered an overview of studies on parent–adolescent relationships across diverse family forms, not limited to the traditional family but also including “non-traditional” and “modern” families. To do so, this article described the evolution of the concept of family over the last fifty years and traced the significant family variables that guarantee adolescent well-being. Additionally, this article discussed the changes that occurred in family research, shifting from studies that considered only the family structure to more recent studies that investigated family processes and contextual factors. Overall, the reviewed studies indicated that the quality of parent–adolescent relationship, the interparental conflict and the consequent spillover effect on the child subsystem, and the changes in the economic situation following parental separation/divorce override the effect of the family structure. Finally, this article pointed out the need to examine, in the future research, adolescent well-being across diverse families by adopting more fine-grained methodologies, collecting data from the entire family system, and using a multi-method assessment to obtain a more ecological view of family complexity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?)
15 pages, 394 KiB  
Review
Adolescent Development and the Parent–Adolescent Relationship in Diverse Family Forms Created by Assisted Reproduction
by Maria Quintigliano, Nicola Carone, Anna Maria Speranza, Annalisa Tanzilli, Roberto Baiocco, Lavinia Barone, Concetta Pastorelli and Vittorio Lingiardi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16758; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416758 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3149
Abstract
Assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) are employed by single individuals and couples who are not otherwise able to conceive spontaneously. While the use of ARTs is increasing, research is lacking on the attempts made by adolescent offspring conceived via ARTs to integrate their ART [...] Read more.
Assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) are employed by single individuals and couples who are not otherwise able to conceive spontaneously. While the use of ARTs is increasing, research is lacking on the attempts made by adolescent offspring conceived via ARTs to integrate their ART conception into their identity and negotiate a connection with, and autonomy from, their parents. The present article reviews studies investigating adolescent development and the parent–adolescent relationship in diverse family forms created by ARTs (mainly heterosexual and lesbian parent families), and discusses the results in light of attachment, identity development, and emotional distance regulation theories. Overall, the results indicate that the psychological adjustment of adolescents conceived via ARTs is not undermined by the manner of their conception, and that they enjoy positive relationships with their parents with no difference from those enjoyed by spontaneously conceived adolescents. However, it remains unknown whether the development of a reproductive identity in adolescence is likely to influence adolescents’ interest in searching for or contacting their donors, surrogates, and/or donor siblings. The results suggest the relevance of considering the parent–adolescent relationship, disclosure, and identity formation issues when planning psychological counseling and support interventions with ART parents and their adolescent offspring, and emphasize the need to further investigate these aspects in diverse ART families, including single-, gay-, bisexual-, and trans*-parent families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Decides the Well-Being of the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents?)
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