Discrepant Parent-Adolescent Views on Family Functioning: Predictors of Poorer Self-Esteem and Problems of Emotion and Behaviour in British and Canadian Adolescents

Abstract

Conflict between a parent and an adolescent may be indicative of problems of family cohesion, and may predict poorer self-esteem and problems of emotion and behavior. This idea is explored in high school and junior college populations in Alberta, Canada, and in Britain. In all, 1,796 12 to 19-year-olds completed the summary scale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), which was also completed by a parent. Results were generally similar in both cultures, with many more similarities than differences. On all scale items, adolescents were significantly more critical of their family life than were their parents. The degree of difference between parent and child desc riptions o f family functioning was significantly correlated with the adolescents’ Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores, as well as self-completed, standardized measures of problems of emotion and behaviour. Differences between parent and child’s responses to the FAD were better predictors than FAD scores alone.