How parents experience a transition to adolescence: A qualitative study

Abstract

We investigated how parents who considered themselves "normally stressed" experienced their first child's transition to adolescence. Family systems theory provided a theoretical starting point for this qualitative study, which identified intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual themes in parents' stories about their experiences. Based on the findings, a theoretical model was developed that illustrates how components of parental experiences seem to interrelate. From the parents' perspective, the transition to parenting an adolescent began with a specific, noticeable change in their teenager, which led to a process of adjustment on their part. Participants viewed themselves as experiencing the normal ups and downs of parenting so their descriptions were of a relatively smooth "rebalancing" process. However, the information they provided suggests several potential interventions for parents who may be experiencing severe challenges in adjusting to parenting teenagers. © 2002 Human Sciences Press, Inc.