Perceptions of Singles and Single Parents: A Laboratory Experiment¹

Abstract

Two hundred forty undergraduates rated their perceptions of an individual for a job requiring relocation using a 2 × 3 (Gender: Single Male, Single Female × Child: No Child, 3‐Year‐Old, 6‐Year‐Old) between‐subjects experimental design. Findings indicate that single parents are perceived as having a more difficult time adjusting to a move but are also perceived to be more mature than childless singles. Single parents are also more likely to be offered a job that did not require relocation and are more likely to be awarded a merit‐based stipend than childless singles. Support was also found for the hypothesized mediating role of perceptions of adjustment and maturity in understanding actions taken toward single parents. The results are discussed in terms of implications for future research and applied practice.

Attitudes Toward Never-Married Single Mothers and Fathers: Does Gender Matter?

“…Previous studies exploring beliefs about single parents have used sample sizes between 116 and 696 participants (Bennett & Jamieson, 1999;Bryan et al, 1986;Eby et al, 2004;Rhodes & Johnson, 2000). Additionally, the two sub-samples for this study did not significantly vary on demographic variables, with the exception of highest level of education, which creates greater confidence when comparing the results from the single mother and father versions of the questionnaires.…”

“…As reviewed earlier, previous studies have examined perceptions of single parents in general (Bryan et al, 1986;Eby et al, 2004;Rhodes & Johnson, 2000), and only one other study was found that included any kind of gender comparison (Bennett & Jamieson, 1999). Considering that the single father literature consisted almost exclusively of self-perception studies (e.g., Chima, 1999;Greif & DeMaris, 1990), the current study provided some important insight into how never-married custodial single fathers may be viewed by society, particularly when compared to never-married custodial single mothers.…”

“…As a part of recruitment methods we chose to use listservs in an attempt to expand beyond a college sample, since previous research on societal beliefs about single parents had relied almost entirely on samples of undergraduate students (Bennett & Jamieson, 1999;Bryan et al, 1986;Eby et al, 2004;Ganong & Coleman, 1995). Despite our efforts, nearly 75% of the sample was comprised of students in some capacity; however, there was a sizable overall age range (i.e., 18-75 years) with a mean age of 27.22 years (SD = 11.68), which suggests there is greater diversity in this sample than it would initially appear.…”

Effective work‐life balance support for various household structures

“…We suggest that the relative importance of organizational support (work-family culture) counteracts any advantageous effects of supervisor support on parents' work outcomes. In addition, employees with a family may represent a relatively more experienced group in the organization, occupying a further life stage (Eby, Allen, Noble, & Lockwood, 2004). This group may need less support from their supervisors than newcomers in the labor market, who are less likely to have started a family (couples and singles).…”

Is family structure a cue for stereotyping? A systematic review of stereotypes and parenthood

“…Eight studies (Camilleri & Ryan, 2006;Choi, Thul, Berenhaut, Suerken, & Norris, 2005 (Sears, 1992), as well as a 'positive or negative evaluation of and disposition toward persons, groups, policies, or other objects of attention' (Vogt, 1999). Five studies (Fingerhut & Peplau, 2006;Eby, Allen, Noble, & Lockwood, 2004;Planitz & Feeney, 2009;Troilo, 2013;Troilo & Coleman, 2008) preferred the concept of stereotypes and defined it as 'widely held beliefs about the attributes of individuals or groups, which may be somewhat accurate, but might also be based on false or exaggerated information' (Ashmore & Del Boca, 1981), or as 'psychological representations of the characteristics of people that belong to particular groups' (McGarty, Yzerbyt, & Spears, 2002), or as 'a generalization about a class of people' (Eby et al, 2004).…”