Triangulation and Parent–Adolescent Relationships: Implications for Adolescent Dating Competence and Abuse

Gregory M. Fosco, Mengya Xia, Mark G. Lynn, John H. Grych

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study focuses on family predictors of conflict behavior in adolescent dating relationships, drawing on family systems and socialization perspectives. Mother–adolescent, father–adolescent, and triadic relationships each was examined as predictors of adolescent dating outcomes that hold importance for developmental and prevention science (positive conflict resolution, verbal abuse, and physical abuse). We conducted a longitudinal analysis using a 6-month longitudinal design with 236 ethnically diverse high school students. Findings indicate that triangulation into parental conflicts was related to increases in positive conflict resolution and with increases in verbally abusive behavior with dating partners over time. Parent–adolescent closeness and conflict each was related to positive conflict resolution and verbal abuse, but these associations were only found for boys.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)524-537
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cultural Studies
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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