Reciprocity and change within the affective family environment in early adolescence

This study examined: (1) the extent and change of affective relationships between young adolescents and their parents over a two-year period; and (2) the amount of reciprocity or concordance of family feelings. Relationship patterns were examined longitudinally from the child's sixth to eighth grade in school (Petersen, 1984). Mothers, fathers, and adolescents completed the Lowman Inventory of Family Feelings (LIFF; Lowman, 1974, 1980). The results are based on a longitudinal sample of 54 complete triads and between 128 and 284 dyads depending on measurement point and informant. Family feelings were positive overall, but declined by eighth grade. Here, no differences in results depending on the gender of the adolescent or the parent were detected. Nonreciprocity of family feelings was only present in sixth grade but not in eighth grade. At sixth grade, boys especially, shared less positive family feelings. Results indicate the importance of studying the quality and change of parent-offspring relationships across adolescence.