Intergenerational Transmission of Familial Boundary Dissolution: Observations and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescence

Shaffer, Anne; Egeland, Byron

doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00653.x

Cited by 23Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Intergenerational Transmission of Familial Boundary Dissolution: Observations and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescence

Shaffer, Anne, Egeland, Byron·2011·Family Relations

DOI 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00653.x

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Abstract

This study investigated the transmission of boundary dissolution (BD) in parent-child relationships from parental behaviors observed in early childhood to adolescent behaviors observed at age 13 and relations to adolescent psychosocial adaptation. The goals of the study are (a) to examine the developmental relation of early childhood BD to several measures of adolescent BD observed in 13-year-olds' behavior, (b) to compare two types of BD in adolescence and their associations with early childhood BD and subsequent psychosocial outcomes, and (c) to test the mediating role of adolescent BD between early childhood BD and later adolescent functioning. Participants were drawn from a study of 196 children followed since birth. Two forms of adolescent BD, role equalization and sexualized behavior, were observed during parent-adolescent structured interactions. Early BD childhood predicted observations of adolescent BD. Role equalization mediated relations to self-worth and externalizing problems. Implications regarding multiple types of adolescent BD are discussed.

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One longitudinal study found that adolescent but not childhood boundary dissolution predicted internalizing problems in adolescence.
“Regarding temporal order, one longitudinal study found that adolescent but not childhood boundary dissolution predicted internalizing problems in adolescence [92].”
From Parentification Vulnerability, Reactivity, Resilience, and Thriving: A Mixed Methods Systematic Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [92]

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Authors: Shaffer, A., & Egeland, B.
Affiliations: University of Georgia (US)
University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author: Shaffer, Anne
ORCID: Shaffer, Anne
Venue: Family Relations
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2011-06-15
Volume: 60
Issue: 3
Pages: 290-302
ISSN: 0197-6664 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00653.x
OpenAlex: W2026321020
Cited by: 23
References: 43
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 1.04
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1 (tdm, 1539 d)
Locations: Family Relations (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords: boundary dissolution, intergenerational transmission, parent-adolescent relationships, sexualized behavior, self-worth, externalizing problems, early childhood, mediation

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Intergenerational Transmission of Familial Boundary Dissolution: Observations and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescence

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