The Parental Bond and the Well-Being of Adolescents and Young Adults

Connectedness in the Lives of Children and Adolescents: A Call for Greater Conceptual Clarity

“…Although in some cases this analogy seems sensible given how some researchers measure connectedness (see above), in other cases, the parental bond is defined with quite different indicators, such as identifying with the parent, viewing the parents as good role models, accepting parents as educators, valuing parents as friends and persons with whom they can communicate [33]. Still others write of relational support (e.g., "support family members perceive in dyadic family relationships") [34] or relatedness (e.g., " .…”

The Well-Being of 12 - to 16-Year-Old Adolescents and their Parents: Results from 1999 to 2003 Spanish Samples

“…And when these studies have taken place, they have for the most part been related to family variables such as communication, attachment and parental styles. Research by Van Wel et al (2000) and Jackson et al (1998) are some examples. In general, results show that there is a positive correlation between family communication and adolescents' self-esteem, their use of more adequate facing strategies and higher satisfaction with life as a whole (Jackson et al, 1998), while a good relationship with parents is also crucial for better psychological well-being in adolescent children (Van Wel et al, 2000).…”

“…Research by Van Wel et al (2000) and Jackson et al (1998) are some examples. In general, results show that there is a positive correlation between family communication and adolescents' self-esteem, their use of more adequate facing strategies and higher satisfaction with life as a whole (Jackson et al, 1998), while a good relationship with parents is also crucial for better psychological well-being in adolescent children (Van Wel et al, 2000). However, further research is needed in order to explore to what extent the well-being of parents and that of their children maintain direct or indirect relationships.…”

Young Adults’ Individuation with Mother and Father as a Function of Dysfunctional Family Patterns, Gender and Parental Divorce

“…The literature focused on the quality of intergenerational relationships supports this argument, showing that girls are more prone to self-disclosure (Dinda & Allen, 1992), are more involved in maintaining intergenerational bonds (Spitze & Logan, 1990), and report higher levels of intimacy (Bray & Harvey, 1992) than boys. During young adulthood, the parental bond tends to improve for girls but it also tends to decrease for boys (Van Wel, Bogt, & Raaijmakers, 2002). Other studies suggest that parents of daughters might emphasize relational connectedness, whereas parents of sons might emphasize the more instrumental components of parent-child relationships (Prolux & Helms, 2008).…”