Information Package / Course Catalogue
Family Processes Parenting and Child Adolescent Adjustment
Course Code: PDR526
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Second Cycle (Master's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to examine the influence of family processes and parenting practices on children’s and adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment from developmental and systemic perspectives. Students will critically evaluate reciprocal relationships among family systems, parenting behaviors, family relationships, and child-adolescent development through theoretical frameworks and empirical research findings.

Course Content

This course examines the influence of family processes and parenting practices on children’s and adolescents’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment from developmental and systemic perspectives. Core topics include family systems, attachment, parenting styles, psychological and behavioral control, autonomy support, coparenting, family communication, and family conflict. The course also explores the impact of contemporary family contexts, such as divorce, remarriage, migration, socioeconomic adversity, and digitalization, on child and adolescent development. Students will analyze the dynamic and reciprocal relationships between family processes and child-adolescent adjustment through major theoretical frameworks and empirical research findings. Emphasis is placed on the critical evaluation of family-based prevention and intervention programs, as well as the development of evidence-based research and practice competencies. Through engagement with current scientific literature, case studies, and research discussions, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how family relationships shape developmental outcomes across childhood and adolescence.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Compare major theoretical approaches that explain family processes.
2.Evaluate the effects of parenting behaviors on child and adolescent development.
3.Explain the risk and protective factors that influence child and adolescent adjustment.
4.Interpret the developmental outcomes of family relationships based on empirical research findings.
5.Critically evaluate contemporary research on parenting.
6.Analyze family-based prevention and intervention programs.
7.Design evidence-based family interventions to promote child and adolescent development.
8.Critically evaluate methodological approaches and research designs used in the study of family processes.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Bornstein, M. H. (Ed.). (2019). Handbook of Parenting.
2.Lightfoot, C., Cole, M., & Cole, S. R. (2018). The Development of Children.
3.Sanders, M. R., & Morawska, A. (Eds.). (2018). Handbook of Parenting and Child Development Across the Lifespan.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Family, Parenting, and Child–Adolescent Adjustment: A Conceptual Framework What are family processes?, Child adjustment and psychosocial development, Risk and protective factors, Developmental perspectives
Week 2 - Theoretical
Understanding Families: Theoretical Perspectives Family Systems Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, Life-Span Development Perspective, Family Stress Model
Week 3 - Theoretical
Attachment and Parent–Child Relationships Attachment theory, Internal working models, Secure and insecure attachment, Lifelong implications of attachment
Week 4 - Theoretical
Parenting Styles and Dimensions Baumrind’s parenting typology, Maccoby and Martin’s model, Warmth, Control, Responsiveness, Autonomy support
Week 5 - Theoretical
Psychological Control and Autonomy Support Psychological control, Behavioral control, Autonomy development, Individuation during adolescence
Week 6 - Theoretical
Parental Monitoring and Adolescent Risk Behaviors Parental monitoring, Parental knowledge acquisition processes, Adolescent voluntary disclosure, Risk behaviors
Week 7 - Theoretical
Coparenting and Family Functioning Theories, Supportive and conflictual coparenting, Effects on child adjustment
Week 8 - Theoretical
Parenting and Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Adjustment
Week 9 - Theoretical
Family Communication and Emotional Socialization Family communication patterns, Emotion coaching, Emotion regulation, Family emotional climate
Week 10 - Theoretical
Family Conflict, Divorce, and Family Transitions Marital conflict, Divorce and family transitions, Children's adjustment following divorce, Protective and resilience factors
Week 11 - Theoretical
Diverse Family Structures and Development Single-parent families, Stepfamilies and remarried families, Immigrant families, Families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, Families of exceptional children
Week 12 - Theoretical
Parenting in the Digital Age Digital parenting, Social media, Internet use, Digital monitoring and supervision, Technology and family relationships
Week 13 - Theoretical
Evidence-Based Parenting Interventions Coparenting program
Week 14 - Theoretical
Future Directions in Family and Parenting Research Emerging trends, Longitudinal research, Dyadic and family systems approaches, Family estrangement, Emerging areas of research
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Assignment1%15
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%20
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory143384
Assignment1527
Quiz1516
Midterm Examination110111
Final Examination110111
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)119
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
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OÇ-1
5
3
2
2
4
3
2
1
2
3
1
1
2
OÇ-2
4
5
4
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4
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
3
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OÇ-4
4
4
3
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4
2
4
2
4
5
1
1
3
OÇ-5
3
2
1
1
2
1
5
1
5
5
1
1
2
OÇ-6
4
5
4
2
5
4
3
5
3
3
2
2
4
OÇ-7
4
5
5
2
5
5
3
5
4
4
2
2
4
OÇ-8
3
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
5
5
1
1
1
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026