Association of parental communication practices with adolescent behavioral difficulties and prosocial behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted adolescents’ daily lives and raised concerns about their mental and behavioral health. Although supportive parent–adolescent communication has been associated with better behavioral and psychosocial adjustment, evidence regarding the associations of specific parental communication practices with adolescent behavioral outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic remains limited. This study examined the associations between positive parental communication practices and adolescents’ behavioral difficulties and prosocial behavior in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A nationwide, population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in December 2020 using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method. Participants included 641 parent–adolescent pairs (grades 5 and 8). Parents reported engagement in three positive communication practices: explaining in easy-to-understand words, empathizing with adolescents’ feelings, and having family discussions. Adolescents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Weighted multivariable linear regression models were used to assess associations between each communication practice and SDQ outcomes, adjusting for demographic, household, and parental factors. Among parents, 80.3% reported explaining in easy-to-understand words, 57.9% empathized with adolescents’ feelings, and 59.4% engaged in family discussions. Explaining in easy-to-understand words was associated with lower total difficulties ( β = − 1.79, 95% CI: − 3.56 to − 0.03) and lower internalizing difficulties ( β = − 0.87, 95% CI: − 1.73 to − 0.01). Empathizing with adolescents’ feelings was associated with lower total difficulties ( β = − 1.69, 95% CI: − 3.13 to − 0.25) and lower externalizing difficulties ( β = − 1.02, 95% CI: − 1.65 to − 0.38). Family discussions demonstrated the strongest and most consistent associations, including lower total difficulties ( β = − 2.40, 95% CI: − 3.62 to − 1.18), lower internalizing difficulties ( β = − 1.09, 95% CI: − 1.79 to − 0.39), lower externalizing difficulties ( β = − 1.31, 95% CI: − 1.98 to − 0.63), and higher prosocial behavior ( β = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.46). Positive parental communication practices were associated with lower behavioral difficulties and higher prosocial behavior among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, with family discussions showing the most consistent associations across behavioral outcomes. These findings support promoting supportive parent–adolescent communication as a practical approach to fostering adolescent well-being during periods of widespread disruption and in everyday family life.