[Role of the father in family communication: findings of a longitudinal study of healthy and chronically ill adolescents]. / Die Rolle des Vaters in der familiären Kommunikation: Befunde einer Längsschnittstudie an gesunden und chronisch kranken Jugendlichen.

In this contribution, family communication processes were analyzed in a sample of families caring for chronically ill adolescents compared to families with healthy adolescents. Fifty-five families had to solve the FIT two times, in 1991 and in 1993. Results elucidated an atmosphere of consensus, in families with chronically ill adolescents as well as a tendency to discuss less options than in families with healthy adolescents. Fathers in particular disagreed rarely and gave only indirect suggestions. In contrast, families with a healthy adolescent showed more vivid discussion and more individuality. Over the time, in all families, fathers emphasized increased separateness with their adolescents, irrespective of the gender of the child.