Effects of family structure and parental involvement on adolescent participation in family decisions

This study examined factors relating to adolescent participation in family decisions. Type of family (one or two parent, intact or blended), family adaptability and cohesion, and degree of parental involvement in decision making were tested for their influence on adolescents’ reported involvement in 15 family decisions. Data were gathered from a sample of 304 adolescents, aged 12-16 years, living in a country town in South Australia. Female adolescents were involved in more family decisions than male adolescents. A non-significant trend was found for adolescents in one parent families to be more involved in family decisions than in two parent families. No significant age or social class differences were found relating to adolescent participation in family decisions. Family adaptability was associated with high parental involvement in decision making and was associated with greater adolescent participation in family decisions. A similar, but non-significant, trend was found for family cohesion.