Adolescents', Mothers', and Fathers' Perspectives of Emotional and Behavioral Problems: Distress, Control, and Motivation to Change

ABSTRACT

Utilizing a clinical sample, this study examined relations between adolescents' subjective distress over their emotional/behavioral problems, their perceptions of parental distress over these problems, and parents' reports of their own distress over their adolescents' behaviors. Additionally, adolescents' perceived control over these behaviors was investigated, as well as parents' and adolescents' motivation to change problematic behaviors. Results are discussed in relation to interventions with adolescents and their families and suggestions for future research are made.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• parents
• emotional-behavioral problems
• distress
• change motivation