Parent-Youth Power Dimensions and the Behavioral Autonomy of Adolescents

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) whether adolescents were perceived by parents as having power, and (b) whether dimensions of adolescent and parental power predicted teenagers' behavioral autonomy. Ouestionnaire data were collected from a sample of 392 adolescents and their parents. Factor analysis and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that adolescents were perceived by their parents as having expert, legitimate, referent, reward, and coercive power. In addition, adolescent and parental power predicted the progress of adolescents toward behavioral autonomy from parents. A major conclusion from these findings was that adolescents are capable of becoming autonomous while retaining close ties with parents.