Parent-Adolescent Relationships in Families With Depressed and Self-Harming Adolescents

This study used a content analysis methodology to assess the quality & nature of 115 parent-adolescent relationships. Dependent vaiables derived to assess the relationship with mothers & fathers were overall quality of the relationship, & amount of communication & conflict. Analyses revealed that nonclinical controls reported better relationships with their parents. Self-harmers experienced the least satisfactory relationships with their parents & more conflict with their mothers than the other groups. Contrary to expectation, no gender differences were found. However, there was a trend for girls to report more frequent communication with mothers. (85 refs.)