Final answer:
Families with adolescents often address adolescent rebellion, which includes potential identity crises during the teenage years. Adolescents work on establishing their identity, potentially leading to conflicts over everyday issues, but most conflicts between teens and parents are not severe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Families with adolescents often have to deal with adolescent rebellion, which may include identity crisis issues during the teenage years. During adolescence, which ranges from approximately 12 to 18 years old, individuals face a significant psychosocial task of identity versus role confusion. Psychologist Erik Erikson noted that this is a crucial time for developing a sense of self as adolescents ask themselves "Who am I?" and "What do I want to do with my life?" While trying on different roles and identities, successful navigation through this stage leads to a strong sense of identity. Adolescents who are unable to do this may experience weak self-concept and role confusion, remaining unsure about their future.
In contrast, empty nest syndrome and midlife crisis are more typically associated with parents' experiences after their children grow up and leave home or during their own middle-age years, respectively. As adolescents begin to develop their own identities, they may exhibit increased independence, which can sometimes lead to conflicts with parents over day-to-day issues. However, contrary to the traditional belief of intense 'storm and stress,' research indicates that most teen-parent conflicts are about mundane matters, and that overall, most teens do not experience extreme rebellion.