Cultural Correlates of Parent‐Nonparent Stereotypes: A Multivariate Analysis

Abstract

This study empirically examines the cultural meanings of parental and nonparental roles. A multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the influence of generational group, family size, and place of residence on ratings of personality traits for each role by 57 mother‐ daughter pairs. Respondents perceived the nonparental role very differently from the parental role with generational group emerging as the main driver variable. The findings of this study strongly suggest that parental role stereotyping does not occur in a simple bivariate manner but results from the interplay of several factors.

Child Development Research In Home Economics: State of the Art

“…Although Gardner et al (1958) (Bigner et al, 1981;Galejs and Stockdale, 1980;Highberger and Carothers, 1977;Hulls, Nelson and Cohen, 1980;Jacobsen et al, 1980;Ko-blinsky and Sugawara, 1979;Lawton, 1978;Moschis et al, 1980;Sugawara et al, 1976;Taub, 1974) have appeared during the more recent part of the period under review and seem to indicate a trend toward increased theory testing. However, the reader must b~ , ... cautioned that the studies reviewed for this latter portion of the review period were published in the Home Economics Research lournal while those of the earlier portion of the review period appeared in the journal of Home Economics.…”

“…Both fathering attitudes and activity were a function of the birth order of the child and of age. Bigner, Jacobsen, and Phelan (1981) examined the cultural meaning of parental and nonparental roles. Fifty-seven mothers and 57 daughters (non-matched on blood relation) rated 25 personality traits using a semantic differential scale to determine their image of parental and nonparental roles.…”