title: Emotional variability during mother-adolescent conflict interactions: longitudinal links to adolescent disclosure and maternal control.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine relations of emotional variability during mother-adolescent conflict interactions in early adolescence with adolescent disclosure and maternal control in early and late adolescence. Data were used from 92 mother-adolescent dyads (M age T1 = 13.05; 65.20% boys) that were videotaped at T1 while discussing a conflict. Emotional variability was derived from these conflict interactions. Mothers also completed questionnaires at the start of the study (T1) and five years later (T6) on adolescent disclosure and maternal control. Path analysis showed that more emotional variability during conflict interactions in early adolescence was associated with higher levels of adolescent disclosure in early adolescence and with relative decreases in maternal control from early to late adolescence. More emotional variability of mother-adolescent dyads serves an important function in adaptively dealing with relational challenges that arise during adolescence.
authors: Department of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94208, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: D.vandergiessen@uva.nl.
authors: Daniëlle
authors: D
authors: Van der Giessen
authors: Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: S.branje@uu.nl.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Branje
authors: Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: L.Keijsers@uu.nl.
authors: Loes
authors: L
authors: Keijsers
authors: Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: pac.van.lier@vu.nl.
authors: Pol A C
authors: PA
authors: Van Lier
authors: Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: J.M.Koot@vu.nl.
authors: Hans M
authors: HM
authors: Koot
authors: Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: W.meeus@uu.nl.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Meeus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent
keywords: Adolescent disclosure; Conflicts; Emotional variability; Maternal control; Mother–adolescent interactions