Difficult Communication with the Father or Not Having or Not Seeing the Father: Effects on Teens’ Risk Behavior and Well-being

Authors

  • Inês Camacho Faculdade de Motricidade Humana- Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
  • Margarida Gaspar de Motas
  • Gina Tomé
  • Celeste Simões

Keywords:

Father, Mother, Communication, Adolescents, Risk Behaviour and Well-Being.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence that “having a difficult communication with parents†and “not seeing or not having parents†may have on risk behaviour (drunkenness and bullying) and on the perception of school performance, happiness, health perception and physical and psychological well-being.

Methods: In the context of European study HBSC-Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children, the study included a total of 4877 students attending the 6th, 8th and 10th grade in public schools in Portugal, with an average age of 14 years old.

The results revealed that young people that do not have or never see their father tend to get drunk more often, their perception of academic ability is more frequently below the average and they tend feel more unhappy. Compared to those, pupils reporting having a father at home but a difficult communication with him  less frequently got drunk, like better attending school, have a better perception of academic ability, are more happy and have a better perception of health. Significant differences were not found regarding mothers.

Although a difficult communication with fathers affect adolescent’s health, well being and their engagement in risk behaviour, the situation is in general still worst when they do not have or do not see their fathers at home.

 

 

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Published

2014-06-15

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How to Cite

Difficult Communication with the Father or Not Having or Not Seeing the Father: Effects on Teens’ Risk Behavior and Well-being. (2014). Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(3). https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/1157

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