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Abstract

The goal of this study is extend existing research by exploring the perception, handling and influence of adolescent-parent conflict within Punjabi families. Towards this end, six qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted and their content was analyzed; the methodology, analysis, and theoretical perspective were anchored in traditional North American parenting frameworks. A knowledge deficit was addressed by including interviews with parents in the sample. The results suggest that parenting style, trust and cultural values play a major role in the dynamics of intergenerational conflict within the Punjabi population. Parents who adhered rigidly to parental training-type practices tended to have more conflict with their adolescent children than parents who were willing to negotiate with their children.