PREFACE

“Romance fails us and so do friendships, but the relationship of parent and child, less
noisy than all the others, remains indelible and indestructible, the strongest relationship
on earth.”

- Theodore Reik

Adolescence rhymes with adventure. It’s that phase of life when the thrill of the
“new” is overwhelming, when the excitement of discovery soars. Demographically, in a
country like India, one of the biologically youngest countries in the world with half the
population under 25, adolescents constitute a powerhouse one cannot afford to ignore.
They are the biggest asset – they are the future. This is a generation that one should not
take for granted; it’s a generation about which one should not be judgmental.

This generation is shaped by the spirit of the times. It is a generation born in

affluences where shortages are unknown and there is a surfeit of choices in almost
everything. Technology dominates the life of this generation. Statistics support the fact
that majority of the adolescents spend maximum time on social networking sites and with
friends. In the wake of this, they are getting away from their families and are becoming
increasingly independent. Their friends, their social life is becoming more important than
their parents

This research attempts to find out what adolescents of this generation think about
their relationship with their parents. It aims to get the views of adolescents as to what do
they feel when their parents question them, what are the points of arguments and
agreements among the parents and the children, and how do they describe their
relationship.

MANSI GOR
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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.   

~Henry Ward Beecher

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. With all my heart, I would like to thank my
Research Guide, Dr. Mridula Maniyar, who has guided me all throughout my research.
Thank You Ma’am for being the Torch Bearer, for providing the knowledge of research,
as knowledge is the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing
returns.

I would also like to thank all those respondents – the adolescents, who spared
their playtime in vacations to give some time for my research and help me complete my
study.

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to my family for being a great support system for me
in all odds and evens of life, and to the Great Almighty, to have his hand of blessings on
me.

MANSI GOR

 
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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

“Parents are in a unique position to talk to their children because they know their
children the best. They can shape attitudes and behaviors, and socialize adolescents to
become healthy adults by providing information and importing skills to make responsible
decisions.”
-Kim Miller.

Adolescence is an important phase in one’s life, where biological, cognitive &

emotional changes take place. One of the most important changes is that of
independence, self reliancy. The young adolescent tries to establish a sense of autonomy
or individuation. He wants to think for him, to speak for himself, to form his own values
and opinions, to think about his lifestyle and tastes, to have some privacy, to be his own
self. This is a time when he forms his own identity.

Kuppuswamy (1974) has identified three stages of adolescence:-

a) Pre – adolescence – This is the period between childhood and

adolescence, a period of about two years when the personality is broken
up and the modifications reaching up to adult personality starts. This is a
period of hyperactivity, rebelliousness, moodiness and irritability. These
are manifestations of the way in which the individual is coping with the
disorganization of his adult personality.
b) Early adolescence – This is the period marked by rapid growth of arms
and legs and changes in body proportion. A greater stability in behavior is
there. The chief task is being accepted as a member of the peer group.
Strong friendship ties develop with the members of one’s sex group, but
there is also the awakening of a strong interest in the opposite sex.

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 c) Late adolescence – This is the period in which the behavior characteristics are
more like that of the adult. This period is roughly between 15-20 years of age.
There is a broader range of interests with life goals being fixed. Many people
enter into their careers during this age. The individual attains his full height in
this period. He achieves in a great measure independence from his parents, but
the parents continue to be highly idealistic.

The teenage years can be an emotional assault course for all concerned. A gulf
can grow between parents and their children during adolescence. It's a time of rapid
physical development and deep emotional changes. These are exciting, but can also be
confusing and uncomfortable for child and parent alike.

Some of these changes are described as follows:

Physical

• The process of rapid physical changes in adolescence is called puberty. It starts

gradually, from around eleven years for girls and thirteen for boys. The age at
which puberty starts has been dropping in most countries, probably due to better
nutrition. The hormone changes responsible actually begin some years earlier and
may produce periods of moodiness and restlessness. Girls start these changes
before boys and will, for the first three or four years, appear to be maturing much
faster. After this, boys catch up.
• These changes include:
For girls: menstrual periods, growth of under-arm, body and pubic hair.
For boys: voice breaks (becomes deeper), growth of body and pubic hair, facial
hair, erections and wet dreams. For both: Rapid physical growth.
• By the age of 17, they'll be young men and women who may be bigger than their
parents and capable of having children themselves. In spite of this, they often still
need support from the parents.
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 • It is not surprising that, with the speed of these changes, some adolescents
become very concerned about their appearance. They may need a lot of
reassurance, especially if they are not growing or maturing as quickly as their
friends.
• They and their parents may worry less if they remember that there's a lot of
difference in the ages at which these changes occur.
• Growth and development uses a lot of energy, and this may be why teenagers
often seem to need so much sleep. Their getting-up late may be irritating, but it
may well not be just laziness.

Psychological

• As well as growing taller, starting to shave or having periods, people of this age
start to think and feel differently. They make close relationships outside the
family, with friends of their own age. Relationships within the family also change.
Parents become less important in their children's eyes as their life outside the
family develops.
• Real disagreements emerge for the first time as young people develop views of
their own that are often not shared by their parents. · As everybody knows,
adolescents spend a lot of time in each other's company, or on the mobile, or
internet to each other. Although this can be irritating to parents, it is an important
way of becoming more independent. These friendships are part of learning how to
get on with other people and gaining a sense of identity that is distinct from that
of the family. Clothes and appearance are a way of expressing solidarity with
friends, although teenage children are still more likely to get their values from the
family.
• Parents often feel rejected, and in a sense they are, but this is often necessary for
young people to develop their own identity. Even if they have rows and
arguments, the children will usually think a lot of their parents. The rejections and
conflicts are often not to do with the personalities, but simply with the fact that
they are parents, from whom the children must become independent if they are to
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 have their own life. · As they become more independent, young people want to try
out new things, but often recognize that they have little experience to fall back on
when things get difficult. This may produce rapid changes in self-confidence and
behavior - feeling very adult one minute, very young and inexperienced the next.
• Being upset, feeling ill or lacking confidence can make them feel vulnerable.
They may show this with sulky behavior rather than obvious distress. Parents
have to be pretty flexible to deal with all this, and may feel under considerable
strain themselves.
• Adolescence is the time when people first start in earnest to learn about the world
and to find their place in it. This involves trying out new experiences, some of
which may be risky or even dangerous.
• Young people can crave excitement in a way that most adults find difficult to
understand - and exciting activities may be dangerous. Fortunately, most people
manage to find their excitement in music, sport, or other activities that involve a
lot of energy but little real physical risk.
• When they do experiment - with drink or drugs or smoking - it is usually with
friends. If a young person does this alone, they are in much greater danger.
Warnings from older adolescents will usually be taken more seriously than those
from parents.

Emotional Problems

• Over-eating, excessive sleepiness and a persistent over-concern with appearance

may be signs of emotional distress.
• Anxiety may produce phobias and panic attacks. · Recent research suggests that
emotional disorders are often not recognised, even by family and friends.
• At some time, many adolescents have felt so miserable that they have cried and
have wanted to get away from everyone and everything.
• During their adolescence, some teenagers think so little of themselves that life
does not seem worth living. In spite of these powerful feelings, depression may
not be obvious to other people.
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 Why is the word "teenager" causing the parents so much anxiety?

When we consider that the teen years are a period of intense growth, not only
physically but morally and intellectually, it's understandable that it's a time of confusion
and upheaval for many families.

Despite some adults' negative perceptions about teens, they are often energetic,
thoughtful, and idealistic, with a deep interest in what's fair and right. So, although it can
be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help
kids grow into the distinct individuals they will become.

Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents impact child
development. However, finding actual cause-and-effect links between specific actions of
parents and later behavior of children is very difficult. Ingersoll (1989) highlights that
some children raised in dramatically different environments can later grow up to have
remarkably similar personalities. Conversely, children who share a home and are raised
in the same environment can grow up to have astonishingly different personalities than
one another. In their attempts to socialize their children, parents interact in ways that can
be characterized, first, in terms of the degree of parental control they exert, and, second,
in terms of the emotional support they provide. The words “parental control” should not
be confused with “over-restrictiveness.” Parents who exercise firm control over their
children may be just as warm and supportive as some who exert little control.
Conversely, parents who use little control may be just as cold and rejecting as some high-
control parents.

Benson and Haith (2009) feel that despite these challenges, researchers have
uncovered convincing links between parenting styles and the effects these styles have on
children. Research generally takes a typological approach to parenting styles. The most
prominent contributor to parenting styles is Diana Baumrind, who conducted innovative
research with predominantly well–educated, middle SES, North American families.

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Using naturalistic observation, parental interviews and other research methods, she
identified four important dimensions of parenting:
• Disciplinary strategies
• Warmth and nurturance
• Communication styles
• Expectations of maturity and control

Based on these dimensions, Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one
of three different parenting styles. Further research by also suggested the addition of a
fourth parenting style.

According to Shaffer & Kipp (2007), the four patterns of parenting are described as
follows -

1. Authoritarian Parenting
In this style of parenting, children are expected to follow the strict rules established
by the parents. Failure to follow such rules usually results in punishment.
Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules. If asked to
explain, the parent might simply reply, "Because I said so." These parents have high
demands, but are not responsive to their children. According to Baumrind, these
parents "are obedience- and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed
without explanation”.

2. Authoritative Parenting
Like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules
and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting
style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children
and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these
parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests
that these parents "monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct.

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 They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are
supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as
socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative".

3. Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents, sometimes referred to as indulgent parents, have very few
demands to make of their children. These parents rarely discipline their children
because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control.
According to Baumrind, permissive parents "are more responsive than they are
demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behavior,
allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation". Permissive parents are
generally nurturing and communicative with their children, often taking on the status
of a friend more than that of a parent.

4. Uninvolved Parenting
An uninvolved parenting style is characterized by few demands, low responsiveness
and little communication. While these parents fulfill the child's basic needs, they are
generally detached from their child's life. In extreme cases, these parents may even
reject or neglect the needs of their children.

Benson and Haith (2009) have reported that based on Baumrind’s typologies,
Eleanor Maccoby in collaboration with John Martin tested the generalizability of
Baumrind’s typologies on more diverse sets of population. They conceptualized
parenting styles as being assessable along two separate dimensions, responsiveness
and demandingness. These combined to produce four parenting styles similar to
Baumrind’s typologies: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and indifferent. 

Demandingness
Responsiveness
High Low
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 High Authoritative Permissive
Low Authoritarian Indifferent

Understanding the Teen Years

So when, exactly, does adolescence start? Everybody's different. There are early
bloomers, late arrivers, speedy developers, and slow-but-steady growers. In other words,
there's a wide range of what's considered normal.

It's important to make a (somewhat artificial) distinction between puberty and

adolescence. Most of us think of puberty as the development of adult sexual
characteristics: breasts, menstrual periods, pubic hair, and facial hair. These are certainly
the most visible signs of impending adulthood, but kids who are showing physical
changes (between the ages of 8 and 14 or so) can also be going through a bunch of
changes that aren't readily seen from the outside. These are the changes of adolescence.

Many kids announce the onset of adolescence with a dramatic change in behavior
around their parents. They're starting to separate from Mom and Dad and to become more
independent. At the same time, kids this age are increasingly aware of how others,
especially their peers, see them and are desperately trying to fit in.

Kids often start "trying on" different looks and identities, and they become
acutely aware of how they differ from their peers, which can result in episodes of distress
and conflict with parents.

One of the common stereotypes of adolescence is the rebellious, wild teen

continually at odds with Mom and Dad. Although it may be the case for some kids and
this is a time of emotional ups and downs, that stereotype certainly is not representative
of most teens.

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 But the primary goal of the teen years is to achieve independence. For this to
occur, teens will start pulling away from their parents — especially the parent whom
they're the closest to. This can come across as teens always seeming to have different
opinions than their parents or not wanting to be around their parents in the same way they
used to.

As teens mature, they start to think more abstractly and rationally. They're
forming their moral code. And parents of teens may find that kids who previously had
been willing to conform to please them will suddenly begin asserting themselves — and
their opinions — strongly and rebelling against parental control.

Thus, adolescence is a major turning point in the parent child relationship. The
transition into adolescence sparks transformations in the parent child relationship. It is a
time when the child’s urges for independence may challenge parents’ authority. The
biggest developmental task for a teen in the relationship with parents is to achieve the
capacity to make one’s own decisions and to manage life tasks without being overly
dependent on other people. Here the tensions between the family and the teens increase.
Apart from that, the closeness between the parents and the teen also diminishes. There are
heightened bickering and disagreements between them.

As the quote by Robert Brault says:

“In the time it takes you to understand a 14-year-old, he turns 15.”

Many parents find adolescence to be a difficult period requiring a fair amount of

adaptation. Young people often move away from their parents, beliefs as they are
learning about the world the world, and parents can find this hard. As a young child, it
was a relationship where the parents were the leaders of the family. As the child matures,
it becomes a more equal relationship where all of them relate on the same level. The
young teen grows & changes so fast that parents can find it hard to keep up.

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 Most families are able to cope up with these demands successfully. Adolescents
fare best & their family relationships are happiest in households where parents are both
supportive and are accepting of the child’s needs for more psychological independence.
Although peer relationships become more important during adolescence, the parent-child
relationship maintains its importance for the psychological development of the child.
Authoritative parenting seems to have the most positive impact on the youngster’s
development. Adolescents reared in such a manner continue to show more success in
school, better psychological development, and fewer behavioral problems than their
counterparts from other types of homes. Youngsters whose parents are disengaged
continue to show the most difficulty.

Allison and Schultz (2004) observed that most disagreements between parents
and teenagers are over fairly "day-to-day mundane matters" and most of them agree on
the essentials. The conflicts in relationships are much more common early in adolescence
teen years, and gradually decline in frequency throughout the later teenage years. They
are neither prolonged nor severe, often centering on issues like the adolescent’s physical
appearance, her choice of friends, or neglect of work and household chores. Much of the
friction stems from the different perspectives that parents and adolescents adopt.

It was once believed that the most adaptive route to establishing autonomy was
for a teen to separate from the parents by cutting the emotional ties in the relationship. It
is to some extent true, but if the teen is warmly received at home, they would be ill
advised to cut the cords of relationship, because those who gradually achieve more
autonomy while maintaining close relationships to family members display the best
overall pattern of psychosocial adjustment. Any teen is most likely to become
appropriately autonomous, achievement oriented and otherwise well adjusted if their
parents, within the relationship, gradually relinquish control.

Brophy (1977) feels that conflicts and power struggles within the relationships
are an almost inevitable consequence of the quest for autonomy by any teen. Yet just
about any teen and their parents are able to resolve these differences in the relationships

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while maintaining positive feelings for one another as they re-negotiate their relationship
so that it becomes more equal. As a result, the teen autonomy seeker usually becomes
more self reliant while also developing more “friendly” relationships with their parents.
As one moves into young adulthood from adolescence, relationships with parents seem to
get better. Parents can be one of the best supporters, supporting young people through
good and bad times.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This research is based on what adolescents perceive about their relationship with
their parents. So the respondents, being adolescents, are easily available in the
community. The researcher approached various tuition classes to systematize the study.
For this purpose, four tuition classes were selected from Bhuj and Vadodara cities of
Gujarat.

RESEARCH SETTING

The research setting included the four tuition classes from where the respondents
were gathered. The tuition classes are – Sumati Study Centre, Bhuj, P M Classes, Bhuj, S
N Tutorials, Vadodara and Shah Classes, Vadodara. The residential addresses of the
respondents were taken from the records maintained in the tuition classes and after an
appointment was fixed, the researcher made a home visit to the respondent’s house for
the interview session.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In this age of globalization and modernization, where human beings are living in a
virtual world, relationships between them are shrinking. The parent-adolescent
relationship has not remained untouched. Adolescence itself is a phase of life when the
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relationship between the parents and child become somewhat strained. The adolescent
spends more and more time with peers or with technology equipments rather than with
parents. But parents still try hard to control their children.

Through this study, it is aimed to find out how the adolescents take a view of the
relationship with their parents. The relationship with parents affects the career and choice
of peers of the adolescent.

The findings of the study will help us to know how much the children are close to
their parents.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY -

In social work research, this study will help in getting a clear view of the relationship
between parents and adolescents. There are cases where adolescents have become
delinquents due to parental neglect. Getting a Perspective into the parent – adolescent
relationship through this study will help the social workers to identify areas where parent
– adolescent relationship can be strengthened and delinquencies can be prevented.

Also the findings will be useful in the field of family and child welfare. Many a
cases of gaps between parents and children start from adolescence itself. If, in this phase,
relationship is strengthened, then social workers can prevent the separation of parents and
children at a later stage of life.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The research is exploratory in nature as it aims to explore the views, the

perceptions of the young teens regarding their relationship with parents, the autonomy
and supervision provided by the parents to them.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

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 The researcher has taken the following objectives for this study:

• To study the personal and family background of the respondents.

• To identify the extent of relationship and supervision by the parents as viewed by
the adolescents.
• To identify the extent of psychological autonomy provided by the parents as
viewed by the adolescents.
• To study the patterns of parenting prevailing in the respondents’ families.

UNIVERSE OF THE STUDY

The universe of the study comprises of the total number of students of Class – X
and Class – XII enrolled in two major tuition classes each in Bhuj and Vadodara cities.
The total number of students from each class, enrolled during the month of May, 2010 is
–

Sumati Study Centre, Bhuj – 50 adolescents

P M Classes, Bhuj – 20 adolescents

S N Tutorials, Vadodara – 35 adolescents

Shah Classes, Vadodara – 40 adolescents

SAMPLE OF THE STUDY

The present study has included four tuition classes in total, wherein, twenty
students from each tuition class will be drawn from the universe. The researcher will use
stratified random sampling, where the main strata will be on the basis of gender, the class
in which they are studying and the city where they are residing. The samples will be

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selected on the basis of their availability in the month of May, 2010, and the availability
of their home addresses.

Accordingly, forty students will be considered from each city – twenty from each
tuition class. Out of these, ten males and ten females will be selected who are studying in
Class – X and Class – XII.

TOOL OF DATA COLLECTION

The researcher has used interview schedule for collecting data, which includes
both open and close ended questions.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The following were the limitations of the study:

• The researcher did not find it easy to receive answers from the adolescents as they
felt very shy when asked about their personal life, so it was quite difficult to get a
reply.
• The researcher had to build rapport with the respondents and even visit their
homes more than once to collect the data in the limited time provided.
• The respondents were also hesitating to give answers as they felt afraid as to what
effect will their answers bring on their relationship with their parents. The
researcher tried hard to take them into confidence by assuring them of
confidentiality.
• When the researcher approached the Heads of the tuition classes, some of them
did not agree to give consent to the researcher for carrying out the data collection.
This was quite a problem as the researcher had to continuously approach one or
the other tuition classes for collecting the data in the limited time provided.

CHAPTERIZATION

This study is divided into four chapters:

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Chapter I gives the introduction to the topic and research methodology.

Chapter II presents a review of the studies conducted previously on the topic and related
areas.

Chapter III presents the interpretation and analysis of the data collected.

Chapter IV enlists the major findings, conclusions out of them and solutions to the
government, the NGOs and to the social workers.

CHAPTER – IV
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

In this chapter, the major findings of the research will be highlighted,

major conclusions will be drawn from those findings and some suggestions
will be given.

FINDINGS –

I) PERSONAL AND FAMILY BACKGROUND -

• Majority of the respondents (70%) are in the later adolescence stage,

i.e. 16 – 18 years and only 30% are in the early adolescent stage.

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 • There are an equal number of male respondents from Class – X and
Class – XII (25%). In case of female respondents, there was a slight
variation. There were more girls from Class – X (26.25%).
• Majority of the respondents (88.75%) belong to the Hindu religion.
• Majority of the respondents’ fathers (38.75%) are in the age group of
41 – 45 years .On the contrary, majority of the respondents’ mothers
(40%) are in the age group of 36 – 40 years. There are two respondents
whose father has expired (2.5%).
• Majority of the parents of the respondents (41.25%) are educated up to
a secondary level and only a few parents (6.25%) have studied up to a
post-graduate level.
• Majority of the respondents (53.75%) told that their father has a
private service whereas majority of the mothers (80%) are housewife.
Three of the mothers of the respondents (3.75%) were running a
business.
• Majority of the respondents (31.25%) have a monthly income of Rs.
10,001 to Rs. 20,000.
• Majority of the respondents (80%) live in a nuclear family, which is a
clear evidence of increasing modernization and westernization in our
country.
• Majority of the respondents’ families (57.5%) have only two children
in the family.
• Majority of the respondents (52.5%) are the first child in their family,
whereas only three respondents (3.75%) are the youngest in the family.

II) RELATIONSHIP AND SUPERVISION –

• Majority of the parents (63.75%) know about all the friends of the
respondents.

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 • Majority of the respondents (77.5%) said that their friends visit their
house only sometimes.
• Majority of the respondents (48.75%) said that they sometimes discuss
about their friends with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (63.75%) said that their parents sometimes
interact with their friends. Only 9 respondents (11.25%) feel that their
parents never interact with their friends.
• Majority of the respondents (71.25%) feel that their parents do not
have any objection to any of their friends.
• Majority of the respondents (39.25%) indicated bad company as the
main reason for objection. Other major reasons indicated were effects
on studies, waste of time, bad nature and bad habits.
• Majority of the parents (82.5%) always know when and where their
child (the respondent) is going for an outing with friends.
• Majority of the respondents (62.5%) always consult their parents
before planning an outing with their friends.
• Majority of the respondents (81.25%) receive pocket money to spend
on their own.
• Majority of the respondents (46.25%) received less than Rs.200 as
their pocket money every month. A few (3.75%) received Rs.801 –
1000 as pocket money.
• Majority of the respondents (86.25%) said that their parents were
aware of their monthly expenses.
• Majority of the respondents (40%) said that their parents never
question them on their expenses and give them as much money as they
want.
• Most of the respondents (62.5%) said that their parents have never
denied giving them money when they have asked for.
• Majority of the respondents (52.5%) said that they can stay away from
their parents for a few days only.
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 • Majority of the respondents (52.5%) said that they contacted their
parents more than once in a day.
• Majority of the respondents (53.75%) indicated that they always help
their parents in household chores.
• Majority of the respondents (76.25%) said that they always have meals
with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (66.25%) said that they always waited for
their parents for meals.
• Majority of the respondents (55%) agreed that they do like to spend
their weekends with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (55%) said that they always like to
celebrate birthdays, festivals & other occasions with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (61.25%) always attend social functions of
the family with their parents.
• A slightly higher number of respondents (51.25%) indicated that they
spend less than three hours a day on an average with their parents, as
compared to 48.75% respondents who spend more than three hours a
day.
• Majority of the respondents (71.25%) never felt that their parents care
more for their siblings and not for them, which indicates that the
parents have been able to create a balance in the care of the children.
• Majority of the respondents (78.75%) said they never felt neglected by
their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (70%) said that they never felt that their
parents have been unable to understand them.
• Majority of the respondents (76.25%) said that they feel that their
parents listen to them.
• Majority of the respondents (71.25%) said that they always take advice
from their parents in difficulties.

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 • Majority of the respondents (53.75%) said that they always discuss
their day with their parents, especially about their school and friends.
• Majority of the respondents (95%) said that they do believe in religion
and God.
• Almost all the respondents (98.75%) said that their parents are
religious.
• Majority of the respondents (75%) told that they are not pressurized to
follow religious norms.
• Majority of the respondents (63.75%) indicated that they enjoy
following religious norms and visiting religious places.
• Majority of the respondents (41.25%) said that their parents sometimes
help them in their studies.
• Majority of the respondents (77.5%) indicate that their parents are
satisfied with their marks.
• Majority of the respondents (48.75%) feel that their parents always
enquire about their daily routine at school.
• Majority of the respondents (57.5%) feel that their parents meet the
teachers of the respondents at school or tuitions only sometimes.
• A large number of respondents (80%) feel that they have never been
influenced by their parents in choosing subjects at school level.
• Majority of the respondents (68.75%) said that their parents are
satisfied with their choice of subjects. Those respondents (11.25%)
who have selected subjects according to their parents’ choice said that
they are satisfied with their parents’ choice.
• Majority of the respondents receive computers and gadgets and all
kinds of books for their studies, even though however costly they may
be. Other facilities include personal room for studies and a study table,
tuitions, co-operation, care & help, etc.
• Majority of the respondents said that they don’t have any problems
while studying at home as they have their personal room for that
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 purpose. Among those who have problems, feel that their siblings and
cousins are the major cause of hindrances. Other reasons include
television, family functions & guests, weak concentration of the
respondents.

III) PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTONOMY

• Majority of the respondents (73.75%) said that they are close to their
mother and can easily confide in her.
• Majority of the respondents (48.75%) said that their parents always
share their family matters with them.
• Majority of the respondents (43.75%) said that they are consulted only
sometimes in taking decisions in family matters.
• Majority of the respondents (47.5%) said that their opinions are taken
into account only sometimes at the time of taking final decisions.
• Majority of the respondents said that there are no major conflicts
among them and their parents. Out of those who said that there are
conflicts, the major issues of conflict were studies, television viewing,
spending time outside home, friends, family issues, marriage, parental
pressure, financial matters, habits of the respondents, and migrating
out for studies.
• In conflict resolution, majority of the respondents (68.75%) said that
they obey parents, which indicates that there is still a lot of parental
control over the children.
• Majority of the respondents indicated that their studies were a matter
on which both parents and they themselves agreed. Recreation, life
decisions and familial and societal values, bonding with family,
friends and relatives, being responsible in life and their career were
other matters on which there was a consensus among parents and
children.
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 • Majority of the respondents were comfortable in discussing about their
friends with their parents. Some said that they were comfortable in
discussing about their school, education and career, life matters and
problems and family matters.
• Majority of the respondents (61.25%) share common interests and
likings with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (62.5%) like recreation and outings in
common with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (56.25%) indicated that both the parents
and respondents will decide together about what to be done in matters
concerning the respondents’ life.
• Almost a majority of the respondents (95%) said that their parents
question them on their activities.
• Majority of the respondents (75%) felt that their parents care for them
so they keep a watch on them.
• Majority of the respondents (88.75%) said that they can rely on their
parents in any situation. They feel that whatever happens, their parents
will always be there to support them.
• Majority of the respondents (67.5%) said that they released their
frustration on their parents sometimes.
• Majority of the respondents (32.5%) said that the parents help in
venting out the frustration.
• Majority of the respondents (76.25%) said that they enjoy talking and
sharing things with their parents.
• Majority of the respondents (57.5%) said that they would prefer
friends to go out and spend an evening with.
• Regarding their career, majority of the respondents opted for technical
and medical field, whereas many of them opted for management as a
career.

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 • Majority of the respondents (95%) said that their parents were aware
of their career aspirations.
• Majority of the respondents felt that their parents want them to opt for
technical, management and medical fields, but many of the parents
have allowed the respondent to decide about their career.
• Majority of the respondents (86.25%) indicate that they like their
parents’ aspirations about their career as they are more or less same
with their own aspirations.
• Majority of the respondents (87.25%) clearly indicate that the parents
fully support the respondents in achieving their career aspirations.
• Majority of the respondents (71.25%) felt that their parents have a
lenient behavior towards them.
• Majority of the respondents (90%) said that parents should not be
totally strict and they should give some freedom to the children also.
• Majority of the respondents (77.5%) said that their relationship is
authoritarian.

CONCLUSIONS –

From the above findings, the following conclusions can be deduced –

• The respondents belonged to the later adolescent stage, living in a nuclear family.
Parents do have knowledge about the friends of their children as their children
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 sometimes discuss about them at home. There are only a few parents who object
to their children’s friends, main reason being bad company. The parents have
knowledge about the children’s whereabouts, as the children consult them. The
children receive pocket money and keep their parents aware of their expenses. In
return, the parents also do not deny giving them money. The children cannot stay
away from their parents for more than a few days, which indicates that they are
much attached to their parents. They have meals together, like to spend time with
their parents and go out with them, although they spend less time with their
parents. The children have never felt neglected, not understood or not listened to
by their parents. They discuss everything with parents without much hesitation.

• The parents have given them the freedom to study the subjects of their choice and
are happy about it. They are also satisfied with their marks in school and provide
many facilities to the children for studying. The children also feel that they do not
face many problems while studying at home because of their parents’ support.

• Parents share family matters with children as most of the family systems are
nuclear, but when it comes to decision making in family matters, children’s
opinions are considered only sometimes. Although there are many issues where
there is a conflict among parents and children, they are for a short period of time
and are resolved as the children obey whatever the parents say. The children also
feel comfortable in discussing issues related to school, friends, career, etc. and
also share common likings with their parents.

• When it comes to deciding about the children’s life, it is a mutual decision from
both the parents and the children. Children feel that their parents care for them
and thus keep a watch on them and they are ready to confide in their parents in
any situation of life. Although children sometimes release their frustrations on
their parents, the parents help them vent out. The children enjoy talking to their
parents, but would prefer going out with their friends.
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 • Majority of the parents and children share similar career aspirations for the
children and parents have given freedom to the children to decide their career.
And have extended full support for the same. The children feel that their parents
have a lenient and friendly behavior towards them and feel that parents should not
be very strict towards their children and should give some freedom to them also.

• The children describe their relationship with their parents as authoritarian, which
means that the parents have given them complete freedom on one hand, but at the
same time, they have an adequate control over them.

SUGGESTIONS –

For Social Workers –

• Social Workers can create awareness among the parents and adolescents
regarding the problems of adolescence and help in creating a stress free
environment in the families with adolescents.

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 • Social Workers can make home visits where there are complaints of problematic
parent – child relationship and use the case-work method and technique of
counseling in smoothening the relationship.

• Social Workers can also use the group work method, where they can organize the
group of adolescents and/or parents and can carry out sessions with them and with
the help of discussions, role plays, etc. can make them aware of the problems in
the parent – child relationship in adolescence and ways to overcome them.

For Non-Government Organizations-

• NGOs can organize camps, training programmes and other such activities where
in conditions can be created that can enhance good parent-child relationship.

• NGOs can form groups of young adolescents in localities and can conduct
sessions which will help the adolescents share their positive and negative
experiences they had with their parents, and through discussions and other such
activities, can come up with possible solutions for problems in the parent-child
relationship.

• NGOs can also start counseling centres for both the parents and the adolescents
where they can arrange for various experts from Social Work, Human
Development and Family Studies and Psychology, and can help the parents and
adolescents meet them, discuss and find solutions to their problems.

For the Government-

• The Government should give importance to the relationship of youth within the
family as well. It is as important for the adolescents and the youth to have good
parent-child relationship as it is to have in the community. For this, the

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 Government can include parent-adolescent relationship in the National Youth
Policy.

• The Government can promote NGOs working for adolescents and Adolescent
Counseling Centers, through which it can help building and strengthening the
parent-adolescent relationship.

• The Government should also try to impart knowledge regarding importance of

family through its education system. It can include a chapter, or a subject wherein
adolescents can be taught the importance of a good parent-child relationship, give
knowledge about the developmental tasks of this phase of life and can suggest
ways of resolving, reducing and preventing conflicts within oneself and in his
family with his parents and siblings.

For Parents-
Apart from the Government, NGOs and Social Workers, the researcher would
also like to provide some suggestions for the parents. When their children are
adolescents, parents have reached a middle age. They have their own set of problems. On
the other hand, there will be the adolescents who may not understand what is happening
to them. They might be confused and frustrated. In that case, there are chances that there
may be a drift in parent-adolescent relationship. Here, the parents will be the best ones
who will have to balance the situations in their child’s life. So, the researcher would
attempt to provide some simple solutions to the parents, which they can follow to have a
better parent-adolescent relationship.

• Listen to the child.

• Remain objective, don't judge.

• Talk to them as if they are intelligent individuals.

• Get to know their friends.

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 • Talk to them openly – do not show hesitation.

• Keep an open door policy, i.e. accept them as they are.

• Spend time with them – on their terms.

PLAN OF ACTION
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 In this part of the research, the researcher has tried to present a plan of action on
the issue.

ISSUE –

“Sensitizing the Adolescents towards their Role in the Family”

RATIONALE-

This programme will have its base from the philosophy that as adolescents strive for
independence and autonomy, they tend to move away from their family. They pass
through a tumultuous phase, full of storms and stresses. This programme will intend to
sensitize adolescents and make them aware of their role in their family, help them in
minimizing conflicts from their side in the family, help them build healthy relationships
and pass the stage of adolescence smoothly.

OBJECTIVES-

• To sensitize early adolescents regarding the storms and stresses of adolescence.

• To help them cope up with these stressors.
• To make them aware of the developmental tasks of this phase and to help them in
fulfilling these tasks.
• To help them build healthy relationships within and outside the family.

TARGET GROUP-
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This session will be planned for early adolescents (age 13 to 15 years). For each session
10 adolescents will be considered.

DURATION OF THE SESSION-

The session will be a “One day Fun and Learn” session, full of fun filled activities and
learning.

BUDGET-

The funds for the session will be mainly collected through mobilizing resources from the
community. For funds, childless couples, NGOs which work for youth, family and child
welfare will be contacted, and who can provide resources/resources persons. Nominal
registration fees shall be charged from the participants as well.

RESOURCE PERSONS-

• Social workers having expertise in the field of family and child welfare.
• Trainers with a background of Human Development and Family Sciences.
• Psychologist.
• Parents and teachers; young adults who have had smooth parent – child
relationship.

DETAILS OF THE SESSION-

1. Welcoming the participants and their registration.

2. Some fun-filled games related to life skills for warming up.
3. Introducing the theme and briefing about the session.

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 4. Discussion and sharing of experiences with experts.
5. One to one meeting with resource persons.
6. Role – plays and skits for sensitizing and creating awareness.
7. Providing solutions for coping up with stressors; their role in family and
so on.
8. Feedback and evaluation.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS-

• Bhagabanprakash, Dr. (Editor) (2003), Adolescence and Life Skills, Tata

McGraw Hill Publishing Company Ltd., N. Delhi

• Brophy, J. E., (1977), Child Development and Socialization, Library of Congress

Cataloging in Publication Data

• Desai, A. N. (1990), Family and Child Welfare (Planning Rearing and

Relationship), Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi

• Henderson, R. W. (1981), Parent – Child Interaction, Academic Press

• Ingersoll, G. M. (1989), Adolescents (2nd edition), Prentice Hall

• Kuppuswamy, B. (1974), A Textbook of Child behavior and Development, Konark

Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi

• Shaffer, D. R., Kipp, K. (2007), Developmental Psychology:- Childhood and

Adolescence (7th edition), Thomson Wordsworth

• The Open University in Association with the Health Education Council and the
Scottish Health Education Group (1982), Parents and Teenagers, Harper and
Row Publishers, London

JOURNALS –

• Allison, B. N. (2000), Parent-Adolescent Conflict in Early Adolescence:

Research and Implications for Middle School Programs, Journal of
Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Vol. 18, No. 2, Fall/Winter,
2000.
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 • Dumas, T. M., Lawford, H., Tieu, T. and Pratt, M. W. (2009), Positive
Parenting in Adolescence and its Relation to Low Point Narration And
Identity Status in Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Analysis,
Developmental Psychology Vol. 45, No.6, November, 2009

• Moore, K. A, Guzman, L., Hair, E., Lippman, L. and Garrett, S. (2004),

Parent-Teen Relationships and Interactions: Far More Positive Than Not,
Research Brief, 2004-05.

• Phinney, J. S., Kim-Jo, T. Osorio, S. and Vilhjalmsdottir, P. (2005),

Autonomy and Relatedness in Adolescent – Parent Disagreements: Ethnic
and Developmental Factors, Journal of Adolescent Research 2005.

• Rice, K.G., & Mulkeen, P.(1995), Relationships with Parents and Peers -
A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Intimacy, Journal of Adolescent
Research July 1995 vol. 10 no. 3 338-357

• Shearer, C. L., Crouter, A. C., McHale, S. M. (2005), Parents' Perceptions

of Changes in Mother-Child and Father-Child Relationships During
Adolescence, Journal of Adolescent Research November 2005 vol. 20 no.
6 662-684

• Vieno, A., Nation, M., Pastore, M. and Santinello, M.; Parenting and
Antisocial Behavior: A Model of the Relationship Between Adolescent
Self-Disclosure, Parental Closeness, Parental Control, and Adolescent
Antisocial Behavior; Developmental Psychology Vol. 45, No.6,
November, 2009

DISSERTATIONS –

• Ahuja, K. N. (1970), A Study Of College Girls With Reference to Parental

Control.

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 • Sethi, G. S.(1976), Parent – Youth “Communication Gap”

• Shinde, P. (2002), Parents’ & Adolescents’ Perceptions of Adolescence, & the

Social & Moral Reasoning in the context of Interpersonal
Disagreements/Conflicts.

WEBSITES-

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16351340

• http://ebooks.iaccp.org/xian/PDFs/3_4Albert.pdf - Albert, I., Trommsdorff, G.

and Mishra, R., Parenting and Adolescent Attachment in India and Germany.

• http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2248/is_153_39/ai_n6142055/pg_2/?tag=c
ontent;col1 - Allison, B. N. and Schultz, J. B. (2004) Parent-adolescent conflict in
early adolescence; Spring, 2004

   

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