Abstract

The aim of this study is, on one hand, to verify the existence of a correlation between the presence of psycho-social risk in the adolescent and family functioning, on the other, to identify possible suggestions for social workers who do work with adolescents and their families. The sample is composed of two sub-samples: the first one is made up of 100 "intact" families with a preadolescent, the second one of 279 "intact" families with a late adolescent. The adolescents and their parents filled up some self-report instruments which wanted to detect support and communication in parent-adolescent relationships, beside family climate. The findings suggest the importance of family relationships in preventing the adolescent's maladjustment. Moreover, this research project shows the presence of differences between preadolescents and late adolescents and provides important suggestions to those who are working in the field of adolescence.