Clinical Research Directory

Addressing Relational and Communication Conflicts in Families With Adolescents.

Adolescence is a stage characterized by intense emotional and social changes. Young people experience emotions more intensely, but they do not always have the necessary tools to recognize, understand, and regulate them properly. In recent decades, the mental and emotional health of adolescents has become a priority issue on the international agenda. Organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, have noted a worrying increase in emotional and psychological problems in this population, as well as a significant lack of skills to recognize and express their emotions appropriately. An important aspect of functionality highlighted by scholars in the field is that "a functional family is not defined by the absence of stress, conflict, or problems, but by how effectively it manages them so that they do not interfere with the well-being of its members. A dysfunctional family cannot fulfill this function" (Colapinto in Roizblatt, 2006). At times, parents may experience misunderstandings or problems within the home. Sharp (2022) notes that interpersonal problems were associated with higher levels of insecure attachment in adolescent offspring, such that adolescents either dismissed the need for attachment or displayed altered concern regarding the relationship; the latter focuses more on how adolescents feel regarding the relationship they have with their parents, and if they lack help or support in acknowledging everything they are going through and feeling, this can continue into adulthood and end up harming how they relate to society and their personal relationships. Considering the context of the Mexicali Valley, characterized by social, economic, and family vulnerability, it is essential to work together on the emotional development of adolescents and the strengthening of their emotional bond with their parents. In this environment, young people not only go through the changes typical of adolescence, but they may also face complex family dynamics, limited support networks, and few opportunities for emotional education.