The Role of the Family’s Emotional Climate in the Links between Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Psychosocial Functioning

Abstract

The current study was designed to extend the parenting literature by testing the moderating role of the family’s emotional climate, operationalized with parent-adolescent emotional closeness and adolescent feelings of being overly controlled by parents on the longitudinal associations between parent-driven communication efforts (i.e. parental behavioral control and solicitation of information from their adolescent), adolescent-driven communication efforts (i.e. adolescent disclosure and secrecy) and adolescent psychosocial functioning (i.e. emotional problems, conduct problems, delinquency, and wellbeing). We conducted a series of cross-lagged models controlling for adolescent gender and ethnicity using a two-wave Swedish longitudinal set of self-report data (N = 1515, 51% girls, M age = 13.0 and 14.3 years at T1 and T2, respectively). Multi-group analyses revealed that the negative links between T1 parental control and T2 adolescent delinquency, T1 parental solicitation and T2 adolescent conduct problems and delinquency, and T1 emotional problems and T2 adolescent disclosure were moderated by the family’s emotional climate. When the family’s emotional climate was positive, the parenting strategies had a more positive effect on adolescent psychosocial functioning, and adolescents with emotional problems communicated more openly with their parents. These findings suggest that the relational context in the family is an important protective factor and add specificity to the previously established role of parent-adolescent communication in adolescent psychosocial development. In terms of preventive interventions, strategies to enhance the family’s emotional climate should be considered prior to teaching specific parenting strategies.

Parent-Adolescent Communication and Early Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: The Roles of Gender and Adolescents’ Age

“…Fourth, other possible moderators that might influence the association, e.g., parental stress, sensitivity, or mentalizing ability, were not controlled for. Finally, this study only investigated the effects of parent-driven communication, not child-driven communication, which might have different effects on adolescent depressive symptoms ( Kapetanovic et al, 2020 ; Kapetanovic and Skoog, 2021 ). Further studies should examine the different roles of parent-driven and child-driven communication.…”

Adolescent smoking, alcohol use, inebriation, and use of narcotics during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…What characterizes adolescents with exacerbated use of alcohol, as well as other substances, such as tobacco and narcotics during the pandemic is yet to be understood. Developmental theories [ 12 ] suggest that parent–child relationships [ 13 ], including close bonds between parents and children [ 14 ] and parental knowledge of adolescents’ whereabouts [ 15 ], as well as adolescent involvement with peers [ 16 ] are critical social factors that have an impact on adolescent behavior and adjustment, including substance use. Indeed, one Swedish study of 755 adolescents and the trajectories of their alcohol and drug use, as well as criminality, suggested that poor family cohesion and engagement with deviant peers, are important explanatory factors for problematic behavioral development, including substance use issues [ 17 ].…”

Associations of Face-to-Face and Instant Messaging Family Communication and Their Contents With Family Wellbeing and Personal Happiness Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Throughout the life course, family communication is crucial for a balanced family system and involves the exchange and sharing of information, knowledge, values, and beliefs ( 6 , 19 ). The content of family communication and type of information being shared can shape behaviors, emotions, and sense of self ( 20 , 21 ), and may thus influence family and individual wellbeing. In addition to providing support against social isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, family communication can also be an important source of health information ( 22 , 23 ).…”