The quality of family interactions as a predictor of adolescents' strengths and difficulties

Successful coping with changes occurring in adolescence can be related to, among other factors, certain family characteristics, most importantly the quality of the parent-child relationship. Accordingly, the study presented in this paper aimed to examine the predictive power of the dimensions of family interaction quality (family satisfaction, perception of parental acceptance-rejection) in terms of the level of adolescents' strengths and difficulties (prosocial behavior, emotional problems, behavioral problems, peer problems, hyperactivity). The study sample consisted of 96 adolescents aged 12 to 15. Data were collected using the Quality of Family Interactions Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The findings show that family satisfaction is a significant predictor of lower levels of emotional problems in adolescents. Also, perceived maternal rejection correlates with higher levels of hyperactivity, while perceived maternal acceptance correlates with lower levels of behavioral and peer problems and higher levels of prosocial behavior. Difficulties and problems in adolescence can affect family functioning and peer relationships, but can also result in poor academic performance and a general sense of poor school adjustment. A better understanding of the importance of family processes for adolescent development would contribute to the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving adolescents' quality of life.