starting points
Post on 24-Feb-2016
33 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
HOW EMERGING ADULTS COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PARENTS:
PERCEIVED SPECIFIC ROLES OF MOTHERS AND FATHERS
Petr Macek*, Věra Juříčková**, & Ondřej Bouša*
*Masaryk University, Brno, Silesian University**, Opava, Czech Republic
Starting points The process of separation and striving for autonomy
of young individuals is strongly based on the negotiation with their parents. (e.g.Goosens, 2006; Beyers& Goossens,1999; Noack & Buhl, 2004; Beyers& Goossens, 2008).
Relationships with parents in the period of emerging adulthood are no longer asymmetrical as they were in childhood and adolescence. (e.g. Kins, Beyers, Soenens,Vansteenkiste, 2009; Buhl, 2007; Seiffke-Krenke, 2009; Macek, Bejček & Vaníčková, 2007).
In this sense, there is a rise in importance of direct communication and real negotiation between emerging adults and their parents.
An open and symmetrical communication between emerging adults and their parents contributes to the clarification of mutual expectations concerning autonomy and separation (Kenyon & Koerner, 2009).
The perception of parents’ relationships, including their communication strategies and patterns, is a strong predictor of behavior and communication in their children’s partner relationships (Cui, Finchman, & Pasley, 2008; Simon & Furman, 2010).
Aims of research
1. A description of specific aspects (dimensions) of communication between emerging adults (EA) and their parents.
2. Assessment of communication with parents: Sex differences and gender stereotypes
3. Assessment of relationships to parents and between parents (functional/non-functional)
4. How specific aspects of mother’s and father’s communication can predict relationships to parents and between parents
Participants
The sample included 385 young people (162 male, 223 female) aged 18 to 25.
University students (62%) Working full-time(24%) Unemployed respondents (13%).
Measures
We start with a qualitative study (emerging adults, n = 25)
An essay about communication with their parents (introduced with these questions:
„What is beneficial for your communication with parents, what pleases and satisfies you?“ and, on the contrary:
„What slows the communication down, restricts and harms it?“)
Content and thematic analysis, 29 topics were identified, which were classified into seven groups.
Group of topics Topics
Frameworks of communication
Gender aspects of relationships with parentsChanges of relationships and communication with parents in time
Perception of parents’ mutual relationship and their communication
Influence of broader family and intergenerational transfer
Parents’ communication skills OpennessListening to othersComprehensibilityTaboo in communication
Experiential (emotional) side of communication
Emotional warmthPossibility of confessing somethingTrustPhysical contactPraiseSense of humor
Mutual respect Respect on the part of parentsSon/daughter as an equal family member Possibility of discussing problems Mutual problem-solvingRespecting privacy
Demonstration of power and parental control
Approach to conflict and its solvingConception of competences, rights, dutiesRole in problem-solving
Rituals and activities enhancing cohesion
Shared timeShared activitiesGreetingsRegular phone contactAddressing and nicknames
Future and expectations Expectations connected to communication with parents in the future
Expectations regarding the respondent’s perspective role of a parent
We compared with:
Measures developed for adolescents’ assessment of parents and for measuring the quality of family environment (Schaefer, 1965; Matějček & Říčan, 1983; Hargašová & Kollárik, 1992; Čáp & Boshek, 1994).
Results regarding the specifics of communication in the period of emerging adulthood. (Arnett, 2004; Konstam, 2007; Macek, Bejček , & Vaníčková, 2007).
Measures
Inventory of communication with parents: 43 items related to- positive communication skills and strategies,- negative communication skills and strategies - autonomy and respect in communication, - demonstration of power, - experiential /emotional expressions of communication (crying,
sadness, humor).
All items were presented separatelly for mother and father, a four-point scale (disagreement - agreement).
The assessment of quality of the relationship with mother/father/ and between mother and father. The relationship was assessed as:
- functional,- more or less neutral,- disturbed,- conflicting.
Results I – Dimensions of communication A principal axis factor analysis, varimax rotation
Father Trust and support
connected with humor
Insincerity and hurting Communication fouls
and demonstration of power
Openness and respect of individuality
Mother Trust and
understanding Insincerity and
distance Destructive and
unpleasant communication
Openness and respect
Mother’s trust is more emotional, based on perceived mutual intimacy; father’s trust is connected more to acceptation, understanding and humor.
Mother’s insincerity is connected with negative emotional atmosphere, father’s insincerity is more concrete, connected with communication fouls.
Results II: Assessment of communication with parents. Sex differences and gender stereotypes
Males Females F-test Sig. M SD M SD MANOVA 5.61a 0.000Destructive and unpleasant communication (M1) 2.05 0.59 2.02 0.58 0.10 0.749Trust and understanding (M2) 2.76 0.49 3.00 0.54 22.41 0.000Insincerity and distance (M3) 1.59 0.54 1.51 0.48 1.76 0.186Openness and mutual respect (M4)
3.06 0.57 3.04 0.63 0.05 0.826Trust and support connected with humor (F1) 2.37 0.67 2.36 0.69 0.07 0.787Insincerity and hurting (F2) 2.00 0.62 1.95 0.64 0.50 0.479Communication fouls and demonstration of power (F3) 1.76 0.75 1.73 0.74 0.05 0.816Openness and respect in a relationship (F4) 2.82 0.68 2.75 0.72 1.61 0.205
Results II: Assessment of communication with parents. Sex differences and gender stereotypes
1,00
1,50
2,00
2,50
3,00
3,50
4,00
M1: Destructive
and unpleasant
M2: Trust and understanding
M3: Distance and falseness
M4: Mutual respect
F1: Trust and support
F2: Falseness and hurting
F3: Power and fouls
F4: Mutual respect and openness
Assessment of Mother Assessment of Father
Females
Males
Results II: Assessment of communication with parents. Sex differences and gender stereotypes
Young women and men present very similar assessment of parents in dimensions of communication (with an exception of trust).
Mother is assessed as more trustworthy and more respecting her daughter/son than father.
Result III - The assessment of functionality
The original items regarding assessment of functionality (mother/father and between mother and father), offered four options:
- functional,- more or less neutral,- disturbed,- conflicting relationship A new dichotomic variable was formed: functional / non-
functional relationship
Results III - The assessment of functionality
Father Mother Between parents0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Functional Non_functional
Results IV How specific aspects of mother’s and father’s communication can predict relationships to parents and between parents
Hierarchical logistic regressions were run to predict :
1. Functional relationship with mother 2. Functional relationship with father3. Functional relationship between parents
The following independent variables were included: - respondents’ sex,- mother’s communication dimensions,- father’s communication dimensions,- functional relationship of the other parent (who is not
being assessed at the time).
Mother
Mother’s communication:Which aspects
Father’s communication:Which aspects
Mother:Functional
relationhips with her
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips between them
Mother -relationship
Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B)
Sexa ,351 ,167 1,420 ,371 ,156 1,450 -,011 ,975 ,989 -0,013 ,971 ,987 F2: Insincerity and hurting
-,048 ,842 ,953 -,414 ,222 ,661 -,070 ,846 ,933
F1: Trust and support with humor ,521 ,026 1,683 -,648 ,077 ,523 -1,157 ,004 0,314
F3: Comm. Fouls and demonstration of power
-,149 ,470 ,862 -,317 ,275 ,728 -,071 ,818 ,932
F4: Openness and respect ,120 ,550 1,127 ,216 ,449 1,241 ,209 ,489 1,233
M1:Destructive and unplesant -1,022 ,002 ,366 -1,189 ,001 0,305
M2: Trust and understanding 2,963 ,000 19,357 3,041 ,000 20,930
M3: Insincerity and distance -,527 ,161 ,591 -,733 ,069 ,481
M4: Openness and mutual respect
,280 ,387 1,323 ,263 ,445 1,301
Relationship with father 1,815 ,000 6,140 R. between Parents ,053 ,894 1,055Nagelkerke R2 0,008 0,065 0,512 0,564-2LL 381,298 367,677 236,894 242,179corr.predict 76,8% 77,1% 85,6% 85,3%Hosmer-Lemeshow 10,707 df 8; sig. ,219 9,627 df 8; sig. 0,292 14,292 df 8; sig. 0,074
Mother: predictors of functional relationhips with her
Mother: Destructive and unplesant (negatively)Trust and understanding
Father: Trust and support with humor (negatively)
Mother:Functional
relationhips with her
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips between them
Functionality of the relationship to mother Mother’s trust is basic, however, if
relationship with mother is damaged, the importance of father’s trust rises – it is likely to fulfill a certain compensatory role here.
It is also up to the overall (functional) relationship with father and it is not so much dependent on the relationships between parents.
Father
Mother’s communication:Which aspects
Father’s communication:Which aspects
Mother:Functional
relationhips with her
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips between them
Father - relationship
Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B)
sexa -,101 ,644 ,904 -,177 ,440 ,838 -,290 ,342 ,748 -,176 ,608 ,838M1Destructive and unplesant -,090 ,673 ,914 ,120 ,683 1,128 ,572 ,096 1,771
M2:Trust and understanding ,224 ,380 1,251 ,058 ,887 1,060 -,975 ,057 ,377
M3: Insincerity and distance -,280 ,270 ,756 ,758 ,052 2,135 1,269 ,004 3,559
M4: Openness and mutual respect
-,057 ,786 1,059 -,150 ,626 ,860 -,055 ,879 ,947
F1: Insincerity and hurting -1,300 ,000 ,272 -1,367 ,000 ,255
F2: Trust and support with humor
1,980 ,000 7,246 2,510 ,000 12,306
F3: Comm. fouls and demonstration of power
-1,161 ,000 ,313 -1,039 ,003 0,354
F4: Openness and respect ,318 ,239 1,375 ,077 ,809 1,080
Relationships with mother 2,064 ,000 7,874
Relationships between parents 1,890 ,000 6,619
Nagelkerke R2 0,001 0,024 0,558 0,668
-2LL 486,867 481,801 296,081 242,179
corr.predict 55,1% 57,6% 80,8% 85,6%
Hosmer-Lemeshow 6,797; df 8; sig. ,559 12,718 df 8; sig. 0,122 11,613 df 8; sig. 0,169
Father: predictors of functional relationhips with him
Mother: : Insincerity and distance
Father:Insincerity and hurting (negat.)Trust with humorCom. fouls and demonstration of power (neg.)
Mother:Functional
relationhips with her
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips between them
The functionality of the relationship with father
It is important for the relationship to father to be alright in communication with him.
Also, the relationship between parents is important to be perceived in a positive way.
It depends also on the relationship with mother and on an intimate communication with mother. Sincerity on the part of mother plays a specific role here – if absent, it makes the functionality of the relationship to father more likely stronger.
The functionality of the relationship with father appears to depend, to a certain degree, also on the relationship with mother and on an intimate communication with mother. Sincerity on the part of mother plays a specific role here – if absent, it makes the functionality of the relationship to father more likely stronger. Nevertheless, at the same time it is important for the relationship to mother to be alright in other respects and for the relationship between parents to be perceived in a positive way.
Mother – Father relationship
Mother’s communication:Which aspects
Father’s communication:Which aspects
MotherFunctional relationhips
with her:
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips
Mother – Father relationship
Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B) B Sig Exp(B)
Sexa -,244 ,277 ,783 -,259 ,314 ,772 -,397 ,143 ,672 -,390 ,179 ,677 F:Insincerity and hurting -,466 ,053 ,628 -,438 ,080 ,645 -,148 ,571 ,862
F:Trust and support with humor
,592 ,010 1,808 ,376 ,154 1,456 -,122 ,679 ,886
F:Comm. Fouls and demonstration of power
-,690 ,001 ,501 -,748 ,001 ,473 -,549 ,024 ,577
F:Openness and respect ,609 ,003 1,838 ,786 ,001 2,194 ,783 ,001 2,189
M: Destructive and unplesant -,300 ,252 ,741 -,320 ,255 ,726
M: Trust and understanding
,645 ,071 1,906 ,596 ,128 1,814
M:Insincerity and distance -,031 ,922 ,969 -,147 ,666 ,863
M:Openness and mutual respect
-,388 ,146 ,678 -,438 ,121 ,645
Relationship with father 1,685 ,000 5,391
Relationship with mother ,349 ,367 1,418
Nagelkerke R2 0,005 0,308 0,332 0,421
-2LL 468,454 378,732 370,816 338,835
corr.predict 62,1% 72,3% 72,3% 76,8%
Hosmer-Lemeshow 9,770 df 8; sig. ,282 5,432 df 8; sig. 0,711 4,441 df 8; sig. 0,815
Mother – Father: Predictors of functional relationship
Mother’s communication
Father’s communication: Comm. fouls and demonstr. of power (neg.)Openness and respect
MotherFunctional relationhips
with her:
Father:Functional
relationhips with him
Mother - Father:Functional
relationhips
Mother – Father: Predictors of functional relationship
When assessing the partner relationship between parents, the specific role of father/partner becomes evident.
It depends mainly on his behavior whether the relationship between parents is assessed as functional or dysfunctional.
Conclusion The functionality of relationships to parents
is seen as an important factor. As our results show, family is a complex system and each parent’s functionality depends on a certain balance of communication and quality of mutual relationships.
Trust, sincerity, and mutual respect are the basic stones for symetrical communication
Emerging adult balances his/her boat on the opened sea of his/her independent life.
In regard to positive development of autonomy, mother represents a safe home port, father a good wind to sails.
top related