Assessing parent-adolescent relations according to the behavioral family-systems model

In this study, Parent-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire (PARQ) which is based upon Behavioral-Family Systems model, was translated into Turkish and internal consistency, factor structure and criterion-related validity of the questionnaire were investigated. 259 adolescents (aged 12-18 years) and 458 parents (254 mothers and 204 fathers) coming from families of middle socio-economic status formed the normal and psychiatric samples in the study. Most of the internal consistency coefficients obtained from the Turkish adolescents and parents were found to be above .70. Factor analyses yielded 3 factors which were named as problem solving communication skills, cognitions/internalized beliefs and family structure, corresponding to theoretical model and the original factor structure of PARQ. Analyses regarding criterion-related validity which involved comparisons of normal and psychiatric adolescent and parents, revealed a conventionalization tendency especially for the Turkish parents. Findings of the study were also discussed in the light of the data obtained in the original reliability and validity of the PARQ.