J Child Fam Stud (2006) 15:319–329 DOI 10.1007/s10826-006-9051-z ORIGINAL PAPER Adolescent perceptions of overall family system functioning and parental behaviors Carolyn S. Henry · Linda C. Robinson · Rachel A. Neal · Erron L. Huey Published online: 16 May 2006 C  Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006 Abstract We used a systems perspective to examine relationships between adolescents’ perceptions of overall family system functioning and selected parental behaviors. Self-report questionnaire data from 160 ninth and tenth grade students were analyzed using MANCOVA and discriminant analysis. The results showed two parental behaviors, support and monitoring distinguished between types of overall family system functioning. Adolescents in balanced and moderately balanced overall family functioning reported greater parental support, while adolescents in balanced and extreme overall family functioning reported greater parental monitoring. We present the implications of our findings for parent education and assessment. Keywords Family system . Monitoring . Support . Parent . Adolescent Current theory (Olson & Gorall, 2003) and practice (Cowan, Powell, & Cowan, 1998; Minuchin, 1974) advocate emphasizing the linkages between overall family system functioning and parental behaviors. In contrast, minimal research has investigated the re- lationship between overall family system functioning and parental behaviors. Yet, research shows that both overall family system functioning and parental behaviors are positively C. S. Henry () Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, HDFS Department, Stillwater, OK, 74078 e-mail: carolyn.henry@okstate.edu L. C. Robinson Associate Professor, Department of Child Development and Family Relations, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC R. A. Neal Assistant Professor, Department of Consumer and Family Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY E. L. Huey Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Consumer and Family Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV Springer