Family Environment and Adolescent Well-being: Exposure to Positive and Negative Family Influences

This brief provides data on adolescents' experiences in their families, identifies where disparities exist and where needs for intervention are greatest, and discusses the implications for parenting and for policy. Topics include parent-adolescent closeness and communication, parental monitoring, eating meals together, and parental health behaviors. The brief is intended for use by policymakers and educators in taking preventive actions and teaching and building positive behaviors before serious health consequences are experienced.