The conflict teens experience at home can translate to other areas of their life, a new study has found. Furthermore, the research has found that the reverse also applies- the problems teens face in school can spill over to their life at home.
The study, which was published in the journal Child Development, also discovered that mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, and bad mood are vital factors in what the scholars refer to as the "spillover effect".
This term was derived from the finding that problems can spill over between school and home. Such problems include arguments between parents and teens, not being able to accomplish and complete school requirements and assignments, skipping class, getting a low mark on a test or paper, having difficulty comprehending school work, conflict with friends and classmates, and bullying, among others.
According to the researchers from the University of Southern California, who conducted the study, an example of this spill over is when a teen fails a test, causing him or her to be irritable. This irritability might be then brought home, triggering a possible argument with the teen's parents.
Additionally, the researchers note that teens who displayed more symptoms of anxiety and depression were more likely to be in a bad mood after arguing with the parents.
The study involved over a hundred teenagers whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years old. Their parents were also included in the study. All the participants answered questionnaires every day for 14 days.
The researchers, doctoral student Adela Timmons and psychology professor Gayla Margolin, stress that the spillover effect has long been acknowledged but cannot be fully understood. They add that the findings show how some teens end up going into a cycle of negative events.
With the research shedding light on the complexities of being a teenager, the researchers hope to discover effective ways to help teens handle emotions and experiences, to improve their relationship with their family.
