Does Parent-Adolescent Conflict Increase in Early Adolescence?

This investigation assessed family perceptions of parent-adolescent conflict four times from grade 6 to the summer following grade 8. Mothers, fathers, and adolescents (n = 80 families) reported on parent-adolescent conflict in five domains: chores, appearance, politeness, finances, and substance use. Conflict over chores, appearance, and politeness decreased over 2.5 years whereas conflict over finances increased. Substance use conflict remained at relatively low levels across early adolescence. There was little evidence of sex-of-parent or sex-of-adolescent differences in levels of conflict. The results call into question the notion that there is a general increase in parent-adolescent conflict during early adolescence. Conflict in specific domains may show decreases, no change, or increases.