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Many parents dread the onset of adolescence, fearing that their child will become hostile and rebellious and begin to reject his or family. Although it is incorrect to characterize adolescence as a time where the family ceases to be important or as a time of inevitable family conflict. It is a period of significant change and reorganization in family relationships. Family relationships change most around the time of puberty, with increasing conflict and decreasing closeness in many parent-adolescent relationships. Changes in the ways adolescents view family rules and regulations may contribute to increased disagreement between them and their parents.
Family conflict during this stage is more likely to take the form of bickering over day-to-day issues than outright fighting. Similarly, the diminished closeness is more likely to be manifested in increased privacy on the part of the adolescent and diminished physical affection between teenagers and parents, rather than any serious loss of love or respect between parents and children. Research suggests that this distancing is temporary, and that family relationships may become less conflicted and more intimate during late adolescence.
When to consult an expert
Although changes-biologically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially-are expected during adolescence, certain inappropriate behaviors, drastic changes in personality or physical appearance, or abnormal sexual development may warrant consultation with a physician or a counselor. These include:
- extreme changes in weight (loss or gain) or excessive dieting
- sleep disturbances
- social withdrawal or loss of interest in activities
- sudden personality changes
- signs of alcohol or drug use
- talk or threats of suicide
- Violent or aggressive behavior.
- Atypical (early or late) onset of puberty; in girls, failure to menstruate by the age of l6.
Adolescent and Generation Gap
The father/mother likes on T.V. serials, movies and sports but adolescents may not be interested. This is partly due to generation gap. Generation gap means difference of opinion, interest and attitudes in the people of two age groups. The generation gap also increases as a result of greater educational, social and cultural changes experienced by adolescents in contrast to their parents. Some of the common difficulties the adolescents encounter are related to generation gap. Thus disciplinary norm of the home, parental attitude for negligence in studies, unsocial behaviour etc. often express generation gap. Though it is a temporary phase. From mid adolescence family relationship begins to improve because parents, siblings, grandparents recognize him/her as an adult or near adult. With improvement in personal and social adjustment happiness too increases.
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