Over the past few years, our research team has administered a large number of questionnaires to our participating families. All of the information provided by participating families has been very helpful in understanding the transition into adolescence.

Adolescence is a period of dramatic change. Oftentimes, those changes affect the beliefs and emotions of those close to children. The list below presents some of the information we have compiled from our questionnaires on parental concerns of adolescent development. Interestingly, most parents seem concerned about negative social personality issues in their children, such as shyness, hypersensitivity, naïveté, and inflexibility. Negative attitudes, peer influence, and motivation are issues of great concern as well. Medical issues, personal hygiene and appearance, and autonomy are reported as issues of limited concern.

Medical/mental health - 3%
Personal hygiene/physical appearance - 3%
Autonomy/limit setting/independence issues - 5%
Attention skill issues - 5%
Future/happiness - 6%
Self-esteem issues - 6%
Harm from others - 6%
Behavior problems/bad temper - 7%
School issues - 7%
Family relations/structure - 7%
Healthy/good choices - 7%
Peer pressure/peer relations - 9%
Negative attitude - 9%
Motivation - 8%
Negative social personality issues - 12%