Emotional variability during mother–adolescent conflict interactions: Longitudinal links to adolescent disclosure and maternal control

• Published in: Journal of adolescence (London, England.) Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 23 - 31
• Main Authors: Van der Giessen, Daniëlle, Branje, Susan, Keijsers, Loes, Van Lier, Pol A.C, Koot, Hans M, Meeus, Wim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2014; Elsevier; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Adolescent disclosure; Adolescents; Biological and medical sciences; Conflict; Conflict (Psychology); Conflicts; Couple and family; Developmental psychology; Emotional variability; Emotions; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intergenerational relationships; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Maternal control; Models, Psychological; Mother-Child Relations - psychology; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Mother–adolescent interactions; Pediatrics; Psychology, Adolescent; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Self Disclosure; Social psychology; Teenagers; Mother–adolescent interactions; Conflicts; Maternal control; Adolescent disclosure; Emotional variability; Human; Affect affectivity; Parental behavior; Emotion emotionality; Mother child relation; Maternal behavior; Social interaction; Conflict; Follow up study; Mother―adolescent interactions; Adolescent; Family environment; Self disclosure
• ISSN: 0140-1971; 1095-9254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.007

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine relations of emotional variability during mother–adolescent conflict interactions in early adolescence with adolescent disclosure and maternal control in early and late adolescence. Data were used from 92 mother–adolescent dyads ( M age T1 = 13.05; 65.20% boys) that were videotaped at T1 while discussing a conflict. Emotional variability was derived from these conflict interactions. Mothers also completed questionnaires at the start of the study (T1) and five years later (T6) on adolescent disclosure and maternal control. Path analysis showed that more emotional variability during conflict interactions in early adolescence was associated with higher levels of adolescent disclosure in early adolescence and with relative decreases in maternal control from early to late adolescence. More emotional variability of mother–adolescent dyads serves an important function in adaptively dealing with relational challenges that arise during adolescence.