Final answer:
The statement that adolescents with positive parent-child relationships tend to be more self-reliant and socially responsible is true. Parental influence remains significant through adolescence, impacting academic success and moral development, despite the increased importance of peer groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that adolescents whose parents have warm and healthy relationships with them are more likely to be self-reliant, socially responsible, and have a higher self-concept is largely true. Studies indicate that, even though adolescents may physically spend less time with their parents in favor of peer groups during this developmental stage, parental influence remains significant. Warm parent-child relationships contribute to positive outcomes, such as better academic performance and fewer behavior problems at school.
Furthermore, while teens are often thought to only listen to their peers, the reality is that they report parents and other caring adults as the greatest influences on their behavior, including decisions about sexual behavior and political ideologies. This influence persists even as adolescents assert their independence and develop their own system of moral and ethical values, demonstrating the lasting impact of healthy family dynamics.
It is also important to note that risk-taking behavior in adolescence, while sometimes seen as problematic, may have an evolutionary basis. A willingness to take risks can be interpreted as a mechanism that encourages young individuals to venture out and become self-reliant, furthering their path to independence.