Discrepancies in Adolescents’ and Their Mothers’ Perceptions of the Family and Adolescent Anxiety Symptomatology

SYNOPSIS

Objective . This study examines relations between adolescents’ and their mothers’ perceptions of the family and adolescent anxiety symptomatology. Design . Surveys were administered to 145 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years and their mothers. Results . Adolescents viewed the family more negatively than did their mothers. In addition, adolescent girls’ perceptions of the family (satisfaction and communication) negatively predicted later adolescent anxiety symptomatology. Significant interactions between adolescent and mother reports of family satisfaction and communication also were found for girls, but not for boys. For girls, discrepant family perceptions with their mothers appeared to protect them from anxiety if their mothers had negative perceptions of the family. Conclusion . Understanding the similarities and differences among family members’ perspectives yields useful predictive information that cannot be obtained from studying these perspectives in isolation from one another.