In the eye of the beholder: subjective and observer ratings of middle-class African American mother-adolescent interactions

Nicole Campione-Barr; Judith G Smetana

doi:10.1037/0012-1649.40.6.927

In the eye of the beholder: subjective and observer ratings of middle-class African American mother-adolescent interactions

Dev Psychol. 2004 Nov;40(6):927-34. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.40.6.927.

Authors

Nicole Campione-Barr¹, Judith G Smetana

Affiliation

¹ Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 15535748
DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.40.6.927

Abstract

Middle-class African American mothers and adolescents (n=81) participated in a dyadic interaction task in early adolescence (M=13.06 years, SD=1.27) and then again 2 years later (M=15.01 years, SD=1.27). Following the task, mothers and adolescents rated their own and their partner's support and involvement in the task; observers rated videotaped interactions for the same dimensions. African American mothers perceived adolescents' behavior in the interactions more positively than did observers, and both mothers and observers viewed mothers' behavior as more positive than adolescents' behavior. With observers' ratings controlled, early adolescents' more negative perceptions of their mothers' interactions led to less trust and communication with mothers 2 years later, but subjective understanding did not influence later ratings of conflict intensity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior*
Adult
Black or African American / psychology*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mother-Child Relations*
Perception*
Social Class
Social Support
Video Recording