Emotional variability during mother-adolescent conflict interactions: longitudinal links to adolescent disclosure and maternal control

Daniëlle Van der Giessen; Susan Branje; Loes Keijsers; Pol A C Van Lier; Hans M Koot; Wim Meeus

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.007

Emotional variability during mother-adolescent conflict interactions: longitudinal links to adolescent disclosure and maternal control

J Adolesc. 2014 Jan;37(1):23-31. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.007. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Authors

Daniëlle Van der Giessen¹, Susan Branje², Loes Keijsers³, Pol A C Van Lier⁴, Hans M Koot⁵, Wim Meeus⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94208, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: D.vandergiessen@uva.nl.
² Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: S.branje@uu.nl.
³ Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: L.Keijsers@uu.nl.
⁴ Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: pac.van.lier@vu.nl.
⁵ Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: J.M.Koot@vu.nl.
⁶ Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: W.meeus@uu.nl.

PMID: 24331301
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.

Keywords: Adolescent disclosure; Conflicts; Emotional variability; Maternal control; Mother–adolescent interactions.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Development*
Conflict, Psychological*
Emotions*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Models, Psychological
Mother-Child Relations / psychology*
Mothers / psychology
Psychology, Adolescent*