The effects of congruence in mother-adolescent communication, dyadic relationships, and adolescent self-image on adolescent person perception

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine intrafamily relationship variables which constitute the frame of reference for person perception. A model was proposed to conceptualize how the variables interact and influence the process. Specifically, the proposed model was developed to investigate how adolescent person perception is influenced by congruence between the mother and adolescent in: (a) communication, (b) dyadic relationships, and (c) adolescent self-image. One hundred forty-six mother-adolescent dyads participated in the study. Fifty-nine males and 87 females (M = 14.6 years) represented the adolescent sample. Two communication subscales from The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale were used to measure mother-adolescent congruence: Open and Problem Family Communication (Barnes & Olson, 1982). Congruence in four aspects of dyadic relationships was measured with the Family Assessment Measure-Dyadic Relationship Scale (Skinner, Steinhauer & Santa-Barbara, 1984). The four dyadic relationship subscales were: (a) task accomplishment, (b) role performance, (c) affective interaction, and (d) control. Congruence between the adolescent's own self-image and the perception of the adolescent held by the mother was measured with The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire For Adolescents (Offer, 1977), and The Offer Parent-Adolescent Questionnaire (Offer, 1982). Adolescent person perception was measured using the Adapted Modified Role Reperatory Test-(AMRRT) (Vacc & Vacc, 1982). The results indicated a significant path coefficient between mother-adolescent congruence in adolescent social self-image and adolescent person perception ability. Contrary to expected outcomes, high percentages of mother-adolescent congruence were associated with less self and other role differentiation by the adolescent and accounted for 6% of the total variance in the model. These data indicate that the unexpected high percentages of congruence occurring in the mother's and adolescent's perceptions of the adolescent's social self-image could have represented an enmeshed relationship, thus inhibiting the adolescent's self and other role differentiation. Additionally, the dispersion of scores on the AMRRT indicated possible random responding on the instrument by the adolescent which could have contributed to a large variance, and subsequently, the loss of path linkages in the proposed model.