Ambivalent reactions in the parent and offspring relationship

被引:89
作者
Fingerman, KL [1 ]
Chen, PC
Hay, E
Cichy, KE
Lefkowitz, ES
机构
[1] Purdue Univ, Dept Sociol, W Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
[2] Univ Florida, Dept Psychol, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
[3] Penn State Univ, Dept Human Dev & Family Studies, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
来源
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2006年 / 61卷 / 03期
关键词
D O I
10.1093/geronb/61.3.P152
中图分类号
R592 [老年病学]; C [社会科学总论];
学科分类号
03 ; 0303 ; 100203 ;
摘要
Theory suggests that aging parents and their adult children experience ambivalence (conflicting emotions) as a result of unclear norms governing the tie between them. This study investigated personality differences and relationship context differences in ambivalence, as well as the reactions of parents and offspring to each other. As part of the Adult Family Study, 474 individuals from 158 family triads consisting of a mother, father, and son or daughter aged 22 to 49 years completed telephone interviews, in-person interviews, and questionnaires. Multilevel models revealed that poor parental health and neuroticism in parents and offspring were associated with greater ambivalence. Surprisingly, investment in competing roles was associated with less ambivalence. Parents also experienced greater ambivalence when offspring scored higher on neuroticism, rated the parent as less important, or were less invested in their own spousal role. Parents' characteristics were not associated with offspring's ambivalence. Parents appear to react to their children's personality and achievements even after children are grown.
引用
收藏
页码:P152 / P160
页数:9
相关论文
共 57 条
[1]   Negative interactions in close relationships across the life span [J].
Akiyama, H ;
Antonucci, T ;
Takahashi, K ;
Langfahl, ES .
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2003, 58 (02) :P70-P79
[2]  
[Anonymous], 1991, MIXED EMOTIONS CERTA
[3]   NEUROTICISM AND COPING WITH ANGER - THE TRANS-SITUATIONAL CONSISTENCY OF COPING RESPONSES [J].
ATKINSON, M ;
VIOLATO, C .
PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, 1994, 17 (06) :769-782
[4]   Meta-judgmental versus operative indexes of psychological attributes: The case of measures of attitude strength [J].
Bassili, JN .
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 1996, 71 (04) :637-653
[5]   Beyond the nuclear family: The increasing importance of multigenerational bonds [J].
Bengtson, VL .
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, 2001, 63 (01) :1-16
[6]   GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCE AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAKE [J].
BENGTSON, VL ;
KUYPERS, JA .
AGING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 1971, 2 (04) :249-260
[7]  
Carstensen LL, 1999, AM PSYCHOL, V54, P165
[8]   Adult attachment and personality: Converging evidence and a new measure [J].
Carver, CS .
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN, 1997, 23 (08) :865-883
[9]   MOTHER-CHILD AND FATHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE - A DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS [J].
COLLINS, WA ;
RUSSELL, G .
DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW, 1991, 11 (02) :99-136
[10]   Ambivalence, family ties, and doing sociology [J].
Connidis, IA ;
McMullin, JA .
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, 2002, 64 (03) :594-601