Electrical Brain Activity, Family Functioning, and Parent-Adolescent Conflict Communication

As family conflict tends to escalate during the adolescent years, the subsequent effects of adolescence on parent-child dynamics are systemically experienced, both intra- and inter-personally. As such, widening the scope of literature targeted towards better understanding the parent-adolescent conflict relationship is merited. To offer a more gestalt view of parent-adolescent conflict processes, the present study takes a biopsychosocial view of the mother-father-adolescent relationship by considering electrical brain activity using electroencephalography technology. Specifically, electrical brain activity was recorded during two problem-solving family discussions between a mother, father, and adolescent child. Data is analyzed from a pilot study of 11 triads, for a total of 33 participants, examining the statistical relationships between brain waves and self-reported measures of family functioning and distress. Findings suggest that hemispheric lateralization occurs during parent-adolescent problem-solving discussions thus reminding therapists of the importance in using a biopsychosocial lens when assisting families.