Differential trajectories of parent-child relationships and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents.

In this 2-year longitudinal study, trajectories of family development during the second half of adolescence were examined. Cluster analyses of 208 adolescents' reports of family connectedness and individuality yielded three groups: families who were constantly high on connectedness and individuality, families who were high on connectedness and showed an increase in individuality over time and families who were higher on individuality than connectedness at every point in time. Adolescents in the latter group had higher levels of aggressiveness and depressive mood than those in the other two types of families. Findings are discussed with reference to theories of family individuation in adolescence. Copyright 1999 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.