Mother-adolescent conflict: Adolescent goals, maternal perspective-taking, and conflict intensity

Leah J. Lundell, Joan E. Grusec, Kelly E. McShane, Maayan Davidov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Younger and older adolescents were interviewed about their goals in recent disagreements with their mothers. Six goals were identified: instrumental (simply gaining their immediate desire); dyadic concern; achieving emotional support; autonomy; dominance; and nonengagement (avoidance of conflict). Younger adolescents reported significantly more instrumental and significantly fewer emotional support and dominance goals than did older adolescents. Maternal perspective-taking predicted more dyadic concern and fewer dominance goals, as well as more nonengagement goals for younger adolescents. Dominance goals mediated the effect of maternal dyadic perspective-taking on conflict intensity for older adolescents.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)555-571
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008

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