Based on theoretical views about the role of parenting sense of competence in determining overall parenting functioning and the quality of parent-child relationship, this study has examined the relationship between three aspects of sense of competence in parenting role (parenting self-efficacy and parenting internal and external locus of control) and the frequency of parent-adolescent conflict. Mothers (N = 550) and fathers (N = 460) of early adolescents (4th to 8th grade of elementary school, mean age 12 years and 7 months) reported on their sense of competence in parenting role and assessed frequency of conflict with the child. Children assessed the frequency of conflict with both parents and reported on their pubertal status. Parenting self-efficacy and external locus of control were significant predictors of parental ratings on conflict with children of both genders, as well as of children’s ratings on conflict with the same-sex parent. Parenting internal locus of control was not predictive of either parents’ or children’s ratings of conflict. Children’s ratings of frequency of conflict were also predicted by pubertal status. The obtained results support theoretical assumptions about parenting sense of competence as an important determinant of parenting behavior and parentchild relationship.

adolescents, parental role, parenting sense of competence, parent-child conflict