Developmental changes in adolescents' families

In this study we are concerned with the developmental process and perceived changes during the period of adolescence from the perspective of the family. Thirty-two non-clinical Finnish families whose eldest child was 15 to 16 years of age participated in the study. Data were collected in a conjoint family interview and by family tasks. The families' attitudes to the adolescent period were generally positive, but there were also some fears and apprehensions. The families felt that developmental changes had a definitive impact on the whole family. On the basis of a content analysis of the changes perceived and described by the families, the process was divided into three phases: the beginning, the middle, and the resolution. Most of our families were assessed to be in the middle phase. The emergence of new patterns of behavior were typical of the beginning and the middle phase, whereas the resolution phase was characterized by a new status of the adolescent. Although all the families were going through the ...

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