Child-parent relations and psychological stress in the modern family: an analysis of the perception characteristics of Russian schoolchildren in grades 8—11

Abstract Context and relevance. The article is a theoretical and analytical study that combines an examination of empirical data from the author’s 2010 research with a review of contemporary studies published between 2020 and 2026. Adolescence (grades 8—11) is a transitional developmental period during which relationships with parents are restructured, the striving for autonomy intensifies, and sensitivity to the family climate increases. In the context of digitalisation and post‑pandemic change, traditional models of parent-child relationships are complemented by new sources of tension, including the digital generation gap, internet addiction, cyberbullying, and shifts in the structure of communication. Objective. To identify and analyse how adolescents in grades 8—11 perceive parent-child relationships and to determine key areas of psychological tension in the context of contemporary social transformations. Hypothesis. Traditional sources of tension (parenting style, inconsistency in parental demands, and the characteristics of two‑parent and single‑parent families) continue to exert an influence; however, digital factors such as online communication, internet addiction, and cyberbullying are gaining in importance, intensifying adolescents’ experiences of alienation and misunderstanding within the family. Methods and materials. The empirical basis of the study comprises data from the author’s 2010 research (88 respondents, 45 of them teenagers in grades 8 and 11; 43 of them parents), considered in comparison with an analytical review of studies published between 2020 and 2026 that examine the impact of the digital environment, distance learning, and social media on families and adolescents. Results. Younger adolescents more often described their parents as less loving and attentive and reported a lack of warmth and care, whereas older adolescents tended to perceive their parents as more interested and supportive. At the same time, pronounced differences persist in adolescents’ perceptions of mothers and fathers, as well as structural differences between two‑parent and single‑parent families. The analysis of recent sources revealed new areas of tension, specifically the gap between online and offline communication, the shift of discussions of personal problems into the online environment, the use of gadgets as a means of avoiding family conflicts, and the growing significance of the image of the family and parental figures in the semantics of internet addiction. Conclusions. The image of the family among contemporary adolescents is inherently ambivalent: the family appears simultaneously as a supreme value and as a source of considerable psychological tension. The interplay between traditional factors (parenting style, family structure) and digital challenges shapes new patterns of relationships and calls for updated diagnostic and intervention approaches in the practice of school and family psychologists.