About the Project
Background to the Parenting Teens Survey
Adolescence can be a challenging time for both parents and children. Raising children to become responsible adults is an important task and trying to prevent problems from occurring can feel overwhelming and confusing for parents. Difficulties that families may face during this period include: increases in conflict, mental health issues for teenagers, and teenagers engaging in high risk behaviours such as drug and alcohol use.Parents experience a large range of thoughts and emotions about themselves, their children and about the way they are raising their children (parenting). These thoughts and emotions can both help and get in the way of the decisions we make and the things we do with or for our children. Whilst most parents feel confident about their parenting and are able to manage their thoughts and emotions well, there are many parents who at times have doubts about their parenting and who find it difficult to control the negative thoughts and feelings that they experience. These difficulties can lead to problems such as stress, anxiety and depression and can result in higher levels of conflict with our children. As such, it is important that we find ways to assist parents to cope with their thoughts and emotions so that they do not interfere with the parent-adolescent relationship or the wellbeing of teenagers and their parents.
This project is being undertaken as part of a PhD thesis at Swinburne University. It will help us to identify whether there are some ways of thinking and dealing with emotions that are more effective in helping parents to protect their teenage children from harm and that promote their children's wellbeing.