In the herewith thesis I explore the challenges parents face while raising their children during the period of adolescence and how they cope with them. I have also been interested in exploring the changes this period brings along, the role of social and professional support, the emotional burdens or stress experienced by parents, and the way they cooperate with the child’s mother or father.
In the theoretical introduction, I first defined adolescence, presented puberty, and described the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional changes. I then discussed parenting, described different parenting styles, the parent-child relationship, and the conflicts that may arise. Special attention was given to the impact of new technologies and social media. Lastly, I introduced the role of social work as well.
In the empirical section, I presented the findings of a qualitative study based on eight interviews. I found that the relationship between parents and their children changes during adolescence. Parents observe an increased need for freedom and independence in their adolescents, which requires them to adapt and seek balance between control and trust. Key challenges include setting boundaries, managing technology use, and adjusting to behavioural and emotional changes in their children. Parents experience different levels of stress and emotional strain, which they try to manage through self-reflection, conversations, physical activity, and support from their partner or close ones. Most parents did not seek professional help, but their experiences show that social support is an important factor when it comes to easing distress. In the conclusion, I present findings and suggestions for practice, theory, and further research, particularly in the area of support provided to parents by school counselling services and social work.
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