title: Shaking up the system: the role of change in maternal-adolescent communication quality and adolescent weight loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The association between directly observed mother-adolescent weight-related communication quality and adolescent percent overweight within the context of an adolescent weight control study was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger study examining the impact of a behavioral weight control intervention that included attention to parent-adolescent communication (Standard Behavioral Treatment + Enhanced Parenting, SBT + EP) compared with an efficacious Standard Behavioral Treatment (SBT), 38 mother-adolescent dyads participated in a weight-related videotaped discussion. Discussions were taped and collected pre- and postintervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences emerged in the quality of mother-adolescent communication between SBT (n = 19) and SBT + EP (n = 19) participants, nor was baseline mother-adolescent communication quality associated with adolescents' weight loss in either condition. However, a decline in communication quality was associated with better outcomes for adolescents participating in the SBT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary evidence that a change in mother-adolescent communication is associated with successful weight loss among adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University whadley@lifespan.org.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rancourt
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jelalian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003142:Communication; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: adolescents; parent-adolescent communication; weight management