Chapter 11 Adolescents and Families Contemporary Adolescence

Family Structure, Family Process Family structure: refers to the outward characteristics of the family Family process: the quality of the family members’ relationships

Family conflict Focusing on the process Adolescents are often exposed to parental conflict before, during and after a divorce Adolescents can still experience this even outside of a divorce context Adolescents in high-conflict non-divorced households have poorer adjustment than adolescents in low-conflict divorced households Conflict can cause pain, stress, and can be damaging It is exposure to parental conflict, not divorce that is especially damaging to children and adolescents

Divorce and family process Change in parenting styles--mothers Especially in first year, mothers may be less affectionate, more permissive, and less consistent Mother may rely on adolescent as confidant Change in parenting styles—fathers Contact steadily declines in years following a divorce Can be difficult to arrange meetings Fathers frequently the target of blame Increase in economic stress

Reducing the impact of divorce A good relationship with parents Parental relationship remains civil Consistency of parenting

Step-Families Adolescents in step-families are at greater risk of problems including: Depression Anxiety Conduct Disorders Lower academic achievement Delinquency Step parent issues: Authority Difficulty to attach Awareness of sexual relationship It is possible for step-parent relationship to overcome these challenges