Chapter Four: Fundamental Changes of Adolescence: Families

Question 1

Adolescence in the Family System

Answer 1

. Family systems approach
. Dyadic relationships
. Each subsystem influences every other subsystem.
. Change in any member or subsystem creates disequilibrium.
. Adjustments in family required to restore equilibrium.

Question 2

Parents’ Development During Midlife

Answer 2

. Decline in energy, physical health, creativity.
. Increase in wisdom, competence, psychological health, job satisfaction.
. Gender roles less restrictive.

Question 3

Empty-Nest Syndrome

Answer 3

Marital and life satisfaction improve in parents.

Question 4

Patterns of Sibling Relationships

Answer 4

. Five patterns
- Caregiver relationship. 
- Most common in traditional cultures. 
- Buddy relationship. 
- Critical relationship. 
- Rival relationship. 
- Casual relationship. 
. Less conflict and rivalry in emerging adulthood.

Question 5

Extended Family Relationships

Answer 5

. Traditional cultures
. Young men remain in family home after marriage.
. American minority cultures.
. Extended family households common.
. American majority culture.
. Contact with extended family infrequent.

Question 6

Parenting styles: Authoritative

Answer 6

Parents are supportive and show interest in their kids’ activities but are not overbearing and allow them
to make constructive mistakes.

Question 7

Parenting styles: Authoritarian

Answer 7

• The traditional model of parenting in which parents make the rules and children are expected to be
obedient.

Question 8

Parenting styles: Permissive

Answer 8

Parenting involves holding expectations of children that are below what could be reasonably expected
from them.

Question 9

Parenting styles: Uninvolved

Answer 9

Parents are disengaged from their children. They do not make demands on their children and are non-responsive.

Question 10

Effects of Parenting Styles on Adolescents: Authoritative:

Answer 10

• Independent
• Creative
• Self-assured
• Socially skilled

Question 11

Effects of Parenting Styles on Adolescents: Authoritarian

Answer 11

• Dependent
• Passive
• Conforming

Question 12

Effects of Parenting Styles on Adolescents: Permissive

Answer 12

• Irresponsible
• Conforming
• Immature

Question 13

Effects of Parenting Styles on Adolescents: Disengaged

Answer 13

• Impulsive
• Delinquent
• Early sex, drugs

Question 14

Reciprocal or bidirectional effects

Answer 14

Adolescents may evoke certain behaviors from their parents.

Question 15

Differential parenting

Answer 15

. Non shared environmental influences.

. Affected behaviour and psychological functioning.

Question 16

Attachments to Parents (John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory)

Answer 16

• Secure attachment
• Insecure attachment
• Primary caregiver in infancy forms foundation for other attachments.
• Internal working model
• Attachment in adolescence.
• Secure attachment has favourable outcomes.
• Balance between autonomy and relatedness.

Question 17

Attachments to Parents: Studies on attachment theory

Answer 17

. Predictive power weakens with time.

. Fades by late adolescence and emerging adulthood. . Establishes tendencies modified by later experiences

Question 18

Parent-Adolescent Conflict

Answer 18

. Adolescents and parents agree on most important aspects of life.
. Arguments are generally over minor issues.
. Conflict increases sharply in early adolescence.

Question 19

Parent-Adolescent Conflict: Sources of conflict with parents

Answer 19

. Parents seem less physically imposing.
. Sexual issues.
. Increased cognitive abilities – better at arguing.
. Difference in defining autonomy.
. Indirect arguments

Question 20

Parent-Adolescent Conflict: Culture and conflict with parents

Answer 20

. Traditional cultures:

• Less petty conflicts.
• Economic independence and beliefs about parental authority.

. Western cultures
- Independence is ultimate goal.

Question 21

Leaving the Nest/ Coming Back Emerging Adults Relationships with Parents

Answer 21

. Relationships improve

• Appreciate their parents more.
• No day-to-day friction.

. Returning home

• Bridge transition to post college life.
• Burden of paying own bills.
• More successful if parents treat them as adults.

. Staying home more common in Europe

Question 22

Main changes that have taken place in adolescents’ family lives in Western countries over the past 200 years: Patterns over two centuries

Answer 22

. Major changes

• Lower birth rate
• Longer life expectancy
• Movement from rural to urban residence
• Social institutions have taken over many functions

Question 23

Changing Functions of the Family

Answer 23

Table 7.3

Slide 30

Question 24

Historical Changes and the Family in the Padt 50 years

Answer 24

. Rise in the divorce rate.
. Rise in the rate of single-parent households.
- Mother typically custodial parent.
. Rise in the rate of dual-earner families.

Question 25

Effects of Divorce

Answer 25

. Higher risk of negative outcomes. 
.  Drug and alcohol use. 
. Sexual intercourse at earlier age. 
. Depressed or withdrawn. 
. Less likely to attend college. 
.  Not as significant for adolescents as for younger children.

Question 26

Divorce: Family structure versus family process

Answer 26

. Exposure to conflict
. Parenting practices
. Economic stress

Question 27

Divorce: Combatting negative effects

Answer 27

. Good relationship with mother.

. Consistency in parenting.

Question 28

Conflict

Answer 28

Exposure to conflict between parents leads to a

variety of problems in children and adolescents.

Question 29

Negative Outcomes of Remarriage

Answer 29

. Depression, anxiety, conduct disorders.
. Lower academic achievement.
. Delinquent activities.
. Adolescents adjust worse than younger children do.

Question 30

Causes of Negative Outcomes in Remarriage

Answer 30

. Disrupts family structure.
. Disrupts family process.
. Stepfather attempts to exercise authority.

Question 31

Dual-Earner Families

Answer 31

. There are few substantial effects.
. Considerations
. Number of hours worked
. Quality of parent-adolescent relationships

Question 32

Physical and Sexual Abuse in the Family: Physical abuse Causes/ Effects

Answer 32

. Causes:

• Family stresses or problems in parents’ lives.
• More likely in poor or large families.

. Effects in adolescents:

• More aggressive.
• Antisocial behaviour.
• Substance use
• Depression, anxiety.
• Poor academic performance.

Question 33

Physical and Sexual Abuse in the Family: Sexual abuse Causes/Effects

Answer 33

. Causes:

• Fathers insecure and socially awkward.
• Not expression of affection.

. Effects in adolescents:

• Difficulty trusting others.
• Depression, anxiety, social withdrawal.
• Highly avoidant of sexual contact or sexually promiscuous.
• Substance abuse.
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Question 34

Leaving Early: Runaways

Answer 34

. Running away from home
. High conflict with parents
. Vulnerable to exploitation
. Shelters for runaways

Question 35

Leaving Early: Street Children

Answer 35

. Family dysfunction, poverty, war, family breakdown.
. Work – beggars, vendors, shoe shiners, car cleaners.
. Vulnerable to diseases and abuse.
. Form bonds with other street children.