Day-to-day changes in parent-adolescent connectedness: Relations with daily subjective well-being and eudaimonia differ for parents and adolescents

ABSTRACT

Growing attention is being given to understanding factors that promote individuals’ happiness, life satisfaction, engagement, and meaning in life. This study examined the mutual benefits of a close, connected relationship for parents’ and adolescents’ daily subjective well-being (SWB) and eudaimonia (EUD). Using multilevel actor-partner interdependence models and data from a 21-day daily dairy study of 151 parent-adolescent dyads, we examined the differential role that feelings of connectedness play in parents’ and adolescents’ daily SWB and EUD. Parents’ usual and daily feelings of connectedness to their adolescent were most strongly linked to SWB for parents and adolescents; in contrast, adolescents’ usual and daily feelings of connectedness to their parent were most strongly linked to EUD for parents and adolescents. These findings underscore the importance considering the nature of connectedness in parent-adolescent relationships for understanding their SWB and EUD and point to opportunities for family-based interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent well-being
• parent well-being
• subjective well-being
• meaning in life
• dyadic analysis
• ecological momentary assessment

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Karl R. and Diane Wendle Fink Early Career Professorship for the Study of Families and the Penn State Social Science Research Institute. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Mengya Xia, Hio Wa Mak, Keiana Mayfield, Emily LoBraico, Amanda Ramos, and Devin Malloy for their assistance in collecting and preparing the data, to Carlie Sloan for assisting in literature reviews, and to the participating schools and families that made this project possible.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to report.