The Effects of Parent-Adolescent Communication on Self-Concept and Problem Behavior

Moon, Young Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of parent- adolescent communication on self-concept and problem behavior of adolescents. METHOD: The participants in this study were 480 students from middle schools in Daejeon City. Data were collected from May 19 to 30, 2008 and analyzed using SPSS WIN 14.0 version. RESULT: The mean scores for communication with fathers and mothers were 2.98 and 3.35 respectively and for self-concept, 2.80. The highest reported percentage for problem behavior over the past year were going to the noraebang (Karoki) or videobang (PC Cafe) (78.6%). Significant differences were found for the influence of parent-adolescent communication on self-concept and problem behavior. Communication with fathers and with mothers was positive correlated (r=.365, p<.001). The difference in self-concept for communication with fathers was F=60.40, p<.001, and with mothers, F=51.74, p<.001 and for problem behavior, for communication with fathers, F=3.33, p<.05, and with mothers, F=10.05, p<.001. For self-concept and communication with fathers the correlation was r=.512, p<.001, with mothers, r=.453, p<.001 There was a negative correlation between self-concept and problem behavior(r=-.248, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
This results suggest that practical parent-adolescent communication programs should be developed and applied to bolster communication of adolescents with their parents.