ADOLESCENT SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND PARENTAL SATISFACTION

This study investigated the relation of parents' perceptions of adoles cent social competence to mothers' and to fathers' parental satisfacti on. Using a symbolic interactionist approach, it was hypothesized that dimensions of perceived adolescent competence in role relationships w ith mothers and fathers would be predictors of parental satisfaction. A total of 385 mothers and 343 fathers responded to self-report questi onnaires. Results of the fathers' hierarchical multiple regression mod el indicated that the number of children, and adolescent coercive powe r; were related negatively; whereas father's occupational level, adole scent conformity, adolescent legitimate power and adolescent reward po wer showed significant positive relations with parental satisfaction. Fathers also reported greater satisfaction with sons than with daughte rs. In the mothers' hierarchical multiple regression model, a signific ant negative relation was found between the number of children and par ental satisfaction, whereas significant positive relations were found between adolescent expert power; adolescent legitimate power adolescen t reward power and parental satisfaction.