Dyadic Variability in Mother-Adolescent Interactions: Developmental Trajectories and Associations with Psychosocial Functioning
Dani/lle Van der Giessen
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Susan J. T. Branje
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Tom Frijns
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Wim H. J. Meeus
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D. Van der Giessen (&) S. J. T. Branje W. H. J. Meeus Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University
, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht,
The Netherlands
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T. Frijns Trimbos Institute
, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht,
The Netherlands
Dyadic variability is considered to be a key mechanism in the development of mother-adolescent relationships, and low levels of dyadic flexibility are thought to be associated with behavior and relationship problems. The present observational study examined heterogeneity in the development of dyadic variability in mother-adolescent interactions and associations with psychosocial functioning. Dyadic variability refers to the range of emotional states during interactions of mother-adolescent dyads. During five annual home visits, 92 motheradolescent dyads (M age T1 = 13; 65.2 % boys) were videotaped while discussing a conflict, and they completed several questionnaires on adolescents' aggressive behavior and adolescents' and mothers' perceived relationship quality. Two types of dyads were distinguished: low variability dyads (52 %) and high decreasing variability dyads (48 %). Over time, high decreasing variability dyads were characterized by a broader emotional repertoire than low variability dyads. Moreover, these two dyad types had distinct developmental patterns of psychosocial adjustment. Over time, high decreasing variability dyads showed lower levels of adolescents' aggressive behavior, and
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higher levels of perceived relationship quality than low
variability dyads. These findings suggest that over time
more dyadic variability is associated with less adjustment
problems and a more constructive development of the
mother-adolescent relationship. Adaptive interactions seem
to be characterized by a wider range of emotional states
and mothers should guide adolescents during interactions
to express both positive and negative affect. Observing the
dyadic variability during mother-adolescent interactions
can help clinicians to distinguish adaptive from
maladaptive mother-adolescent dyads.
The developmental phase of adolescence is marked by
changes in the mother-adolescent relationship. From early
to middle adolescence, the number of conflicts among
mothers and adolescents increases, and maternal support
and power decreases (De Goede et al. 2009). These
changes are thought to accommodate adolescents development
towards greater autonomy and personal choice, and enable
mothers and adolescents to establish a more egalitarian
relationship (Laursen and Collins 2009; Smetana 2011).
Changes in the content of mother-adolescent relationships
may be accompanied by changes in structural aspects of the
mother-adolescent relationships. An important structural
aspect of relationships is the variability of dyadic
interaction patterns, which refers to the range of emotional
states of dyads during mother-adolescent interactions
(Hollenstein and Lewis 2006; Lichtwarck-Aschoff et al.
2009). According to a dynamic systems approach, dyadic
variability is considered to be an important factor in
relationship changes, because this variability allows dyads to
reorganize interaction patterns (Fogel 1993; Thelen and
Smith 1994). High levels of dyadic variability may enable
mother-adolescent dyads to adapt to relationship
challenges and opportunities that arise during adolescence
(Granic et al. 2003), and low levels of dyadic variability in
motherchild interactions have been associated with both
adjustment and relational problems (Granic et al. 2007;
Lichtwarck-Aschoff et al. 2009). The major aim of the
current observational study is to examine whether
heterogeneity in the development of dyadic variability during
mother-adolescent interactions is related to the
development of adolescents aggressive behavior, and adolescents
and mothers perceived relationship quality.
Dyadic Variability During Adolescence
During the developmental period of adolescence, the
mother-adolescent system reorganizes. Adolescents begin
to re-evaluate the hierarchy of family roles and they try to
assert more autonomy. This growing need for adolescent
autonomy may give rise to discrepant expectancies of
adolescents and mothers, which can result in more episodes
of conflict. Mothers supporting adolescents autonomy
during conflict interactions enable the mother-adolescent
system to realign beliefs and goals, to reduce conflict, and
eventually to establish a more egalitarian relationship
(Laursen and Collins 2009). So, adolescence can be viewed
as a transitional phase for the mother-adolescent system.
According to a dynamic systems approach (Thelen and
Smith 1994), development is characterized by major
structural shifts during which interaction patterns of
motheradolescent dyads are reorganized into new forms. Higher
levels of dyadic variability are thought to typify periods of
change and reorganization (Fogel 1993). As conflicts are (...truncated)