Measuring parent-adolescent interactions in natural habitats. The potential, status, and challenges of Ecological Momentary Assessment

Abstract Few people are as important for an adolescent’s development as their parents. However, most research on parent-adolescent relationships describes long-term population-wide effects. Therefore, little is known about everyday interactions between adolescents and parents in individual families. Ecological Momentary Assessment [EMA] measures families several times a day, as they go through daily live. This approach provides ecologically valid insights into which interactions took place and how they were experienced. State-of-the-art EMA studies suggest that within-family fluctuations in parenting may trigger changes in an adolescent’s well-being and behaviors. In practice, moreover, EMA may strengthen family support and intervention research. This article reviews recent empirical work, highlights the (un)used theoretical and practical promise of EMA, and identifies key-challenges to unlock this full potential.