This study examined whether divergent parent-adolescent perceptions regarding parental acceptance predicted adolescent adjustment when the level of parental acceptance (as perceived by the adolescent) was held constant, a methodological and theoretical issue largely ignored by previous research. Subjects were 192 intact, primarily dual-earner families consisting of mothers, fathers, and two adolescent siblings (firstborn children were in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade and had siblings 1 to 4 years younger). The families completed home and telephone interviews regarding adolescent and family functioning. Results of hierarchical regression analyses of their responses suggested that divergent parent-adolescent perceptions of parental acceptance did not predict adolescent adjustment over and above the level of acceptance. The findings suggested that previous research needs to be examined more critically, for they seriously question the interpretability of divergent perceptions when level of acceptance is ignored. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/KB)