Influences between parents and adolescents during the transition from middle school to the next stage of school or professional education

According to individuation theory of parent-adolescent relationships, the primary parent-child hierarchy is gradually replaced by a peer-like reciprocity of parents and adolescents. However, it is questioned whether a peer-like relationship is the aim of development. Within a time span of about half a year, 41 families with school leavers after 10th grade of non college-bound school track were interrogated three times, regarding their mutual influences. Between-subject factors were the kind of educational transition (into professional training vs. to a different school track) and. the existence of younger and of older siblings. According to the family members' statements, parental influences prevailed at all time points. Both generations influenced each other for the adolescents' benefit, especially concerning school and career. Further results indicated that greater mutuality in the parent-child relationship was more intensively pursued by the parents rather than by the adolescents.