Gaps, Conflicts, and Arguments Between Adolescents and Their Parents

Parent-adolescent conflict appears to be similar across different immigrant generations and cultural groups in frequency and implications for adjustment. However, the same level of argumentation may mask hidden conflictual feelings that are not expressed. Why an acculturation gap leads to such conflictual feelings in some adolescents and not others is still not well understood. Addressing this and other important issues of parent-adolescent difference by clearly separating acculturation gaps, conflictual feelings, and actual arguments would go a long way toward helping us to understand the role of family relationships in the adaptation and adjustment of adolescents from Asian and Latin American backgrounds.