Abstract
Three problems were investigated with a sample of 329 Estonian and 504 Finnish adolescents (aged 14 to 18 years) and their parents. In Estonia, the responses of parents were received from 85% of the families, and in Finland from 55%. The main findings for each problem were as follows: (1) The adolescent’s, especially girl’s, conceptions of the atmosphere of the parent-child interaction and satisfaction with significant others were more strongly related to the adolescent’s perceptions of a harmonious relationship between the parents than to the parent’s satisfaction with the relationship with the spouse. (2) From the point of view of the adolescent’s conception of the atmosphere of the parent-child interaction, joint activities with the parents, and satisfaction with significant others, a harmonious relationship between the parents was most favorable. Lack of the father might be less detrimental to the adolescent’s, especially girl’s, conceptions of these matters than a less harmonious relationship between the parents in intact families. (3) The findings were replicated in two countries which differed in many respects at the time of data collection in 1985–1986.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amato, P. R. (1990). Dimensions of the family environment as perceived by children: A multidimensional scaling analysis.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 612–620.
Barnes, H. L., & Olson, D. H. (1985). Parent-adolescent communication and the Circumplex Model.Child Development, 56, 438–447.
Blom, R., Kivinen, M., Melin, H., & Rannik, E. (1991). The economic system and the work situation: a comparison of Finland and Estonia.International Sociology, 6, 343–360.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979).The ecology of human development. Experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Ecology of the family as a context for human development.Developmental Psychology, 22, 723–742.
Burr, W., Leigh, G., Day, R., & Constantine, J. (1979). Symbolic interaction and the family. In Burr, W. et al. (Eds.),Contemporary Theories about the Family—General Theories/Theoretical Orientations (Vol. 2, pp. 42–111). New York: Free Press.
Demo, D. H., Small, S. A., & Savin-Williams, R. S. (1987). Family relation and the self-esteem of adolescents and their parents.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49, 705–715.
Doherthy, W. J., & Needle, R. H. (1991). Psychological adjustment and substance use among adolescents before and after a parental divorce.Child Development, 62, 328–337.
Dornbusch, S. (1989). The sociology of adolescence.Annual Review of Sociology, 15, 233–259.
Elder, G. H. (1980). Adolescence in historical perspective. In J Adelson (Ed.),Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 3–46). New York: Wiley.
Elder, G. H. (1985). Life course dynamics:Trajectories and transitions, 1968–1980. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
Emery, R. E., & O’Leary, K. D. (1982). Children’s perceptions of marital discord and behavior problems of boys and girls.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 411–420.
Gecas, V. (1981). Contexts of socialization. In M. Rosenberg & R. H. Turner (Eds.),Social psychology: Sociological perspectives (pp. 165–199) New York: Basic Books.
Gecas, V., & Schwalbe, M. L. (1986). Parental behavior and adolescent self-esteem.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 37–46.
Gecas, V., & Seff, M. A. (1990). Families and adolescents: A review of the 1980’s.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 941–958.
Grych, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (1990). Marital conflict and children’s adjustment: A cognitive-contextual framework.Psychological Bulletin, 108, 267–290.
Kandel, D. B. (1985). On processes of peer influences in adolescent drug use: a developmental perspective.Advances on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, 4, 139–163.
Kurdek, L. A. (1986). Children’s reasoning about parental divorce. In R. D. Ashmore & D. M. Brodzinsky (Eds.),Thinking about the family: Views of parents and children (pp. 233–277). London: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Long, N., Slater, E., Forehand, R., & Fauber, R. (1988). Continued high or reduced interparental conflict following divorce: Relation to yougn adolescent adjustment.Journal of Consulting and Clinial Psychology, 56, 467–469.
Modell, J. (1989).Into one’s own: From youth to adulthood in the United States, 1920–1975. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Narusk, A. (1988)Pered, kus kasvavad teismelised [Families with adolescents]. Tallinn: Valgus.
Narusk, A. (1992). Parenthood, partnership and family in Estonia. In M. Björnberg (Ed.),European parents in the 1990s (pp. 155–170). London: Ashbury.
Noller, P., & Callan, V. J. (1990). Adolescents’ perceptions of the nature of their communication with parents.Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 19, 345–362.
Ojanen, M. (1985).Kasvatus ja minäkuva [Education and Self-Esteem]. Tampere: Tamperen Yliopiston psykologian laitoksen julkaisuja, 139.
O’Leary, K. D., & Emery, R. E. (1984). Marital discord and child behavior problems. In M. D. Levine & P. Satz (Eds.),Developmental variation and dysfunction (pp. 345–364). New York: Academic Press.
Peterson, G. W., & Rollins, B. C. (1987). Parent-child socialization: A review of research and application of symbolic interaction concepts. In M. B. Sussman & S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.),The handbook of marriage and the family (pp. 471–507). New York: Plenum Press.
Porter, B., & O’Leary, K. D. (1980). Marital discord and childhood behavior problems.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 8, 287–295.
Pulkkinen, L. (1984)Nuoret ja kotikasvatus [Adolescents and Parenting]. Helsinki: Otava.
Pulkkinen, L., & Narusk, A. (1987). Functions of adolescent drinking in Finland and in the Soviet Union.European Journal of Psychology of Education, 2, 311–327.
Reed, F. W., McBroom, W. H., Lindekugel D. M., Roberts, V., & Tureck, A. M. (1986). Perceived value similarity in the transition to adulthood: A study with parents and peers.Youth and Society, 17, 267–285
Schütze, Y. (1989). Adolescents and their families. In K. Kreppner & R. M. Lerner (Eds.),Family systems and life-span development (pp. 367–379). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Smith, D. M. (1985). Perceived peer and parental influences on youths’ social world.Youth and Society, 17, 131–156.
Steinberg, L. (1987). Recent research on the family at adolescence: The extent and nature of sex differences.Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16, 191–197.
Zarinz, I. (1985). Povsednevnaja zizn v otsenkah razvedennôh gorodskih zitelei Latvijskoi SSR [Perceptions of everyday life of divorced population of Latvian SSR].Tselovek posle razvoda [After Divorce] (pp. 128–135) Vilnius: IFSP AN LitSSR.
Youniss, J., & Smollar, J. (1985).Adolescent relations with mothers, fathers, and friends. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Zimiles, H., & Lee, V. E. (1991). Adolescent family structure and educational progress.Developmental Psychology, 27, 314–320.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Narusk, A., Pulkkinen, L. Parental relationship and adolescents’ conceptions of their interaction with significant others. Eur J Psychol Educ 9, 203–213 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172780
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172780