What Changes During Adolescence?

Find a therapist to support kids and teens

Short disagreements between parents and adolescents can reveal longstanding communication difficulties.

Researchers distilled a 5-minute disagreement into 4 key elements of communication.

I-statements, vocalizations, body language, and overall relationship quality suggest areas of improvement.

Being mindful of these communication features may transform parent–teen disagreements.

Parent–teen communication is crucial for navigating the challenges of adolescence. Research consistently shows that open, responsive communication is linked to better mental health and emotional resilience. For example, a longitudinal study found that more open parent–adolescent communication predicted lower levels of anxiety and depression over time and may help adolescents develop coping skills to navigate new experiences.

At the same time, adolescence is a period when communication often becomes more strained. Developmentally, teens are striving for autonomy and independence, which can lead to increased disagreement with parents. Teens may question authority and values, resulting in more frequent misunderstandings, conflict, or withdrawal. These difficulties in communication are widespread.

Researchers at Brown University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Emory University tried to capture a range of communication........

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