Exploration of the Family Environment and Problems of Uncontrollable Adolescents
Kirst-Ashman, Karen Kay
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71484
Description
Title
Exploration of the Family Environment and Problems of Uncontrollable Adolescents
Author(s)
Kirst-Ashman, Karen Kay
Issue Date
1983
Department of Study
Social Work
Discipline
Social Work
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Social Work
Abstract
Seventy-four families in which the parents defined their adolescent as uncontrollable were studied. Research questions focused on the following: (1) Problem type, severity, duration, and cause. (2) Social climate dimensions within the family including cohesion, organization, expressiveness, independence, control, and conflict.
Agency workers gathered information from parents and adolescents during initial intake interviews using the Family Environment Scale (FES) by R. H. Moos and accompanying informational and attitudinal questionnaires.
A demographic and problem profile was provided. Problems were perceived as long-standing and serious. Mothers were more likely to blame the adolescents for problems and the adolescents to blame themselves.
In comparison with the population on which the FES was standardized, this sample demonstrated lower levels of cohesion, expressiveness, and independence, in addition to a higher level of control. Levels of conflict and oganization were similar to those in the standardized population. This suggests that these families are unable to handle "normal" levels of conflict, and that parents have difficulty coping with their adolescents' normal developmental needs for independence.
Implications regarding potential treatment alternatives and future directions of research were discussed.
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