Adolescent depression is a common health problem. Despite the cost of treatment for adolescent depression continually increasing, the majority of adolescents who experience a depressive episode will experience another episode before the age of 30. As family therapists, the parent-adolescent relationship is particularly salient because it can be a point of intervention for improving adolescent depression symptoms. The parent-adolescent relationship is complex. However, much of the research examining the parent-adolescent relationship focuses on quality of the relationship. Using data form the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, this study examined: 1) whether closeness, communication, conflict, and autonomy were distinct dimensions of the parent-adolescent relationship; 2) whether these dimensions can be used to create meaningful profiles of the parent-adolescent relationship; 3) whether closeness, communication, conflict, and autonomy differ in early adolescent and middle adolescent relationships; and 4) if adolescents within specific relationship profiles are more likely to exhibit depression symptoms and change in depression symptoms compared to other relationship profiles. Results demonstrated that closeness, communication, conflict, and autonomy were distinct dimensions of the parent-adolescent relationship that can be used to create four meaningful profiles. Using attachment theory, the profiles were labeled secure, avoidant, anxious, and detached. Adolescents in the avoidant profile for cohort 12 reported more depression symptoms at wave 1 and a larger decrease in depression symptoms after two years when compared to all other profiles. The results of this study suggest areas of assessment and intervention for clinicians working with adolescents presenting with depression symptoms. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2017. / March 21, 2017. / Adolescence, Depression, Parent-Child, Relationships / Includes bibliographical references. / Lenore McWey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Carter Hay, University Representative; Ming Cui, Committee Member; Melinda Gonzales-Backen, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_507743 |
| Contributors | Withers, Mathew C. (Mathew Calvin) (authoraut), McWey, Lenore M. (professor directing dissertation), Hay, Carter H. (university representative), Cui, Ming, 1971- (committee member), Gonzales-Backen, Melinda A. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Human Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (92 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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