Predicting attributional accuracy in mother–adolescent conflictual discussions.

This study assessed mothers’ and adolescents’ attributional accuracy during conflictual discussions and the extent to which such accuracy was associated with their relationship quality and individual perspective-taking abilities. One hundred twenty-three mother (MAge = 43) and adolescent (MAge = 14, 54% female, 52% White) dyads participated in a discussion about an issue commonly causing adolescent guilt and rated their own and their partner’s motives during the discussion. They also self-reported on their relationship and perspective-taking abilities. Results showed that mothers and teens reported overall more positive discussion motives, when their relationship was better. There was also moderate agreement between mothers’ and adolescents’ attributed motives and their partners’ self-reported motives. Adolescents’ accuracy regarding both positive and negative maternal motives improved with better perspective-taking. Mothers’ accuracy improved with better relationship quality, but only regarding negative adolescent motives. This study highlights individual factors may be more relevant for adolescent attributional accuracy whereas relational factors may be more relevant for mothers’ accuracy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Source: Journal of Family Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research