CHILDHOOD ANTECEDENTS OF CONVENTIONAL SOCIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT IN MIDLIFE ADULTS - A 36-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

In a 36-year prospective study of the children of the Sears, Maccoby, and Levin (1957) Patterns of Child Rearing sample, the relationship was examined between mothers' child-rearing practices when child was 5, other childhood experiences, and conventional social accomplishment at age 41. Having a warm and affectionate father or mother was significantly associated with adult social accomplishment-operationalized as having a long, happy marriage, children, and relationships with close friends at midlife (Vaillant, 1977). Ss who were more socially accomplished at 41 were significantly more likely to engage in affiliative behaviors and to report good relationships with significant others. They also reported higher levels of generativity, work accomplishment, psychological well-being, lower levels of strain, and less use of emotion-focused coping styles.