Bridging the Emotional Divide: How Generational Gaps and Parental Emotional Intelligence Shape Psychological Discomfort During Adolescent Emotional Shifts

Purpose: This research examines the impact of generational disparities and parental emotional intelligence on the psychological discomfort encountered by parents during the emotional transitions of their adolescents. Additionally, it investigates the moderating influence of parent-adolescent closeness in shaping this dynamic. The objective is to offer practical insights for mental health practitioners, educators, and family policy developers aiming to improve emotional well-being and foster family resilience in the context of rapid cultural and developmental transformations. Method: Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, the investigation acquired data from a total of 385 valid participants, comprising parents, educators, adolescent mental health professionals, and academic researchers throughout Vietnam. A systematically structured 5-point Likert scale survey was formulated, drawing upon validated instruments derived from Family Stress Theory and Attachment Theory, aimed at evaluating perceptions regarding the generational divide, parental emotional intelligence, psychological distress, and emotional intimacy. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, which included reliability assessments (Cronbach’s alpha), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), linear regression, and moderation analysis using the SPSS PROCESS Macro to determine the impact of parent-adolescent emotional closeness. Findings: The empirical data substantiated all the proposed hypotheses. The variance observed across generational cohorts demonstrated a significant positive correlation with parental psychological distress (β = 0.653), while emotional intelligence was found to exert a detrimental effect on levels of psychological turmoil (β = -0.547). The extent of relational closeness between parents and adolescents significantly moderated the association between the generational divide and psychological discomfort (β = -0.478), thereby indicating that relational warmth possesses the potential to alleviate the detrimental consequences of generational tension. Originality/Value: This research uniquely integrates the constructs of emotional intelligence and intergenerational psychology within the Family Stress framework, elucidating how emotional intimacy can transform conflictual interactions into resilience-promoting experiences. The findings yield both theoretical contributions and practical interventions aimed at cultivating emotionally adaptive parenting in contemporary familial contexts.