Joint actions of parents and adolescents in health conversations

Based on an action theory approach, 32 videotaped parent-adolescent convers ations about health in two Canadian ethno-cultural groups were analyzed to identify and describe the joint action of parents and adolescents in the he alth domain. The data include manifest behavior (the conversation), interna l processes (recalled thoughts and feelings on viewing the videotape of Me conversation), and social meaning. These data were analyzed using the goals , functions, and elements of the conversations. Five categories of joint ac tions emerged from these data: sharing and exploring information, values, a nd beliefs about health; negotiating and struggling about aspects of the ad olescent's independence; providing and receiving guidance; adjusting to fam ily and home issues; and fostering joint understanding by giving voice to t he adolescent.