DISCLOSURE OF DISAGREEMENT AND OBEDIENCE IN PARENT-ADOLESCENT RELATIONSHIP: RELATIONS WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR AND SELF-CONCEPT

Abstract

The study approaches adolescent behavior toward disagreement with parents, combining expression of disagreement and obedience and considering its relation with well-being dimensions such as adolescent's perception of own competence, self-esteem and aggressive behavior. One thousand six hundred seventy eight Chilean high school students answered a questionnaire which evaluated several dimensions of adolescents' behavior. A 6 x 2 x 2 MANOVA, using 'modalities-of-coping-with-disagreement' that combines levels of obedience and expression of disagreement with parents, 'age' and 'sex' as independent variables, and aggressive behavior, perceived personal competence and self-esteem as dependent variables, were used to test the hypothesis. Self-report of disagreement expression and obedience degrees presented lesser aggressive behavior and higher competence and self-esteem. Negative effects of the presence of disagreement and disobedience expression were observed.