Clash of Bloods: Sentiments of Parents and Teenagers Having Conflict with Each Other

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Parent-teenager conflict is common because it is part of both party's development. The parents were bewildered and, at the same time, hurt by their children's manners. However, parent-teenager conflict is additionally associated with bitterness and depression which can conjure the special feature in a parent-teenager conflict -the contingent factors. In this study, the conflicts between parents and teenagers, how conflicts occur, how they cope with the conflicts in the family, and their realization after fighting each other were explored.

METHODS

The main method of this qualitative research was the qualitative phenomenological tradition. It was used to describe the lived experiences of the participants. The informants of this study were teenagers with age ranging from 13-18 years old and parents who had a conflict with their children from Brgy. Banate, Malungon, Sarangani Province and Brgy. Osmeña, Sulop, Davao del Sur.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that the majority of the parent participants shared that doing household chores, money matters, and strolling were the most common reasons for conflict with their children. On the other hand, their sentiments while having a conflict include distress and anger. To resolve this conflict, communication was found to be the best solution. This included parent giving pieces of advice to their children and adherence of children to parents' commands and requests. Lastly, parents realized that this conflict leads to impair relationships with their children while the teenagers understood that acceptance is the key to resolve conflicts with their parents.

DISCUSSIONS

In resolving conflicts, it should be done immediately by means of open communication. Disobedience to parents was considered bad but heeding to their advice and reminders were considered good. However, parents were still suffering because of their rude and disrespectful children. Even if the problem was resolved, still, it was not a guarantee that the teenagers will not go back to their rude personality and behavior. Teenagers were also hurt and, at the same time, annoyed because of their parents’ nagging. To address this conflict, they must learn how to respect and obey their parents to avoid more conflicts. Thus, the results of this study paved opportunities to other people, especially to the government, specifically the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the parents and their children.