Agreement Between Parent Proxy Reports and Self-Reports of Adolescent Emotional Distress

Abstract

Parents’ recognition of adolescents’ emotional distress is a significant determinant of early detection and treatment of mental disorders. However, there is dearth of research exploring parent–adolescent agreement regarding adolescents’ emotional distress. This cross-sectional, school-based study compared parents’ proxy reports and self-reports of adolescent’s emotional distress among 289 parent–adolescent dyads in Korea. Findings revealed low agreement between adolescents’ and parents’ reports of depression, anxiety, and anger, with an average polychoric r of .25 to .27. The agreement was particularly low for high school students, boys, and father–adolescent dyads. Additionally, parents tended to underestimate adolescents’ emotional distress symptoms; a significant percentage of adolescents experiencing symptoms were rated in the normal range by parents, particularly high school students experiencing anger. Interventions are needed to help adolescents learn to manage and express their negative emotions. Moreover, parent education programs that improve parents’ recognition of emotional distress and appropriate help-seeking behaviors are needed.