How do parents and teenagers get along together? Views of young people and their parents

The parent-child relationship is closely linked to child well being, and yet the period of adolescence is widely believed to be a time of conflict and stress. Drawing upon data from the Australian Temperament Project - a longitudinal study of children and their development - this article examines whether parents and teenagers are getting along together, and whether this affects adolescent temperament and development. Findings are presented on parents and teenagers views on relationship quality; whether these views are agreed; and the association with family conflict, parenting style, and adolescent personal characteristics, social skills, self esteem, peer relations, and school problems. These findings are in line with many other studies which show that most parents and teenagers enjoy good relationships.