ABSTRACT
Adolescence is a developmental period with a reputation. Much like toddlerhood, it is often described as a period of vehement conflicts with parents, emotional upheaval, and irrational behavior. Such alarming portrayals of adolescence were common in early developmental research on adolescence, and they continue to remain prominent in contemporary popular scientific literature. The onset of puberty involves various physiological changes and physical changes that mark the beginning of adolescence as a chronological phase in human life. These biological changes come with a cascade of developmental changes, many of which have repercussions for parent–adolescent relationships. Illustrative of the systemic impact of puberty on family functioning is the way parents and adolescents discuss puberty-related changes and experiences. Some adolescents are open about these puberty-related events, disclosing freely the changes they encounter and relying on their parents for advice, information, and comfort.
