[Relationship between parental socialization goals and adolescents' satisfaction with life].

Background And Aims: Separation from parents and finding an identity are among the most important tasks of adolescence. To successfully solve these tasks parental and family support are essential. Parental socialization goals are a set of values that offers adolescents to identify with on the one hand and affects the parent-child relationship on the other hand. Through identification and relational processes, parental socialization goals could be related to adolescents' satisfaction with life. In our study, we investigated the organization of parental socialization goals in parents of adolescents. On the other hand, we wanted to reveal the potential link between parental socialization goals and adolescents' satisfaction with life.

Method: Ninety-eight families with two biological parents and adolescents (51 boys and 47 girls) participated in our study. Both parents completed a questionnaire on parental socialization goals. We also used a questionnaire to have adolescents report their satisfaction with life.

Results: Maternal and paternal socialization goals with regard to interdependence formed two components. The two components were labelled obedience-oriented parenting goals and other-oriented parenting goals. Maternal and paternal socialization goals with regard to independence formed two components based on the person of the parent. We labelled these components maternal identity-oriented parenting goals and paternal identity-oriented parenting goals. Adolescents' satisfaction with life positively correlated with obedience-oriented parenting goals.

Conclusions: Results are discussed with regard to age-relevant characteristics of the relationship between adolescents and their families. The unexpected positive link between obedience-oriented parenting goals and adolescents' satis faction with life can be solved with a focus on concepts relevant to adolescence (identity development), parenting (parenting practices), and family (family relational schemata).