CULTURAL, FAMILY, AND PERSONAL CONTEXTS OF PARENT-ADOLESCENT CONFLICT

This study analyzed samples of 1,828 white, black, and Hispanic families with adolescents from the 1988 National Survey of Families and Households in an attempt to explain variations in levels of conflict between parents and adolescents. Parents reported the frequency of conflict with adolescents on 10 issues. Consistent with past research, conflict was reported to occur more frequently over everyday matters such as chores and dress than over substantive issues such as sex and drugs. All parents reported disagreeing over the same issues, but white parents reported more conflict than either minority group. Adolescent personality characteristics, history of problem behaviors, and negative parenting were the strongest predictors of conflict across cultural groups.