PARENT-ADOLESCENT CONFLICT IN THE CONTEXT OF PARENTAL SUPPORT - FAMILIES WITH ALCOHOLIC AND NONALCOHOLIC FATHERS

The authors tested the hypothesis that parental support provides a soc ial context that moderates the effects of parent-adolescent conflict o n adolescent problem behavior. They also examined the possible potenti ating effects of a family risk factor, paternal alcoholism, on parent- adolescent conflict. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses of 269 a dolescents and their parents showed that parent-adolescent conflict wa s more highly related to adolescent problem behavior when parental sup port was low than when support was high. Parent-adolescent conflict wa s related to problem behavior for adolescent children of alcoholics, b ur not for children of nonalcoholic parents. These findings support th e contention that the effects of parent-adolescent conflict need to be understood within the context of other interpersonal and family backg round characteristics.