Parent, Child, and Relational Components of Child Disclosure about Peer Relationships in Early Adolescence

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Karis J. Madison (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Anne Fletcher

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to explore the nature of child disclosure and the manner in which children's disclosure about peer relationships and activities with peers is shaped by the parental, child, and relational contexts within which parent-child communications are experienced. Twenty mother-child pairs participated in qualitative interviews about children's disclosure and nondisclosure concerning relationships with peers. Children were in 6th grade and evenly split between boys versus girls and African American versus European American. Three patterns of child disclosure were observed. Some children were unreserved in their disclosure. Other children screened the information given to their parents. A few withheld most information about their friends from their parents. Climates surrounding child disclosure were also identified. Most children identified climates within which disclosure was promoted more than discouraged. Some identified climates within which disclosure was discouraged more than promoted. A final group of children identified a balance between disclosure promotion and discouragement. How children choose to disclose and the disclosure climates they perceive were associated. Children who perceived disclosure promotion were most likely to disclose unreservedly or with some screening. Children who perceived a climate of disclosure discouragement were most likely to withhold disclosure or to screen their disclosure.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Child disclosure, early adolescence, Family Systems Theory, disclosure climates, disclosure typologies, peer relationships
Subjects
Family--Psychological aspects
Parent-Child Relations
Communication in the family
Interpersonal communication.
Age groups

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