NCJ Number
105051
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1987) Pages: 1-12
Date Published
1987
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the analysis of 62 two-parent families with an adolescent, using the Adolescent Abuse Inventory and other factors to distinguish families at high risk and low risk of adolescent abuse. An intervention project for these families is described.
Abstract
High-risk families were characterized by either excessively rigid interaction styles or excessively chaotic styles with little structure. Low-risk parents tended to be flexible and communicative with adolescents, providing clear boundaries to protect the individuality of family members. All of the 62 families assessed, whether low-risk or high-risk, were invited to participate in the Family Intervention Project (FIP). The FIP goal was to increase parents' use of positive discipline techniques that did not involve physical punishment. The program provided information on the challenges of parenting adolescents, training in skills of communication with adolescents, and the development of discipline alternatives to physical punishment. A central focus was the development of parental empathy for the needs of adolescents. Anonymous self-reports from participants, feedback from graduate student observers, and leader judgment indicate the program content was appropriate for parents' needs and that the mix of high-risk and low-risk parents was not disadvantageous. 1 table and 26 references.