Publication Date

4-1-1998

Degree Program

Department of Communication

Degree Type

Master of Art in Communication

Abstract

This writer reviews some of the most influential factors found in studies of adult childparent relationships, including divorce, surrogate parents, coresidency, caregiving, proximity, family size, and gender. Focusing on the "feminine tilt" in family relationships, research reveals explanations such as caregiving, kinkeeping, and gender identity issues. The author proposes the possibility that the female bias in parent-child relationships has more to do with subjective thought process than biological sex. An analysis was conducted on mailed-in-surveys for 264 Kentucky adults, ages 30 to 49, who completed questions pertaining to their communication and closeness with their parents, and one fourth of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter regarding decision making preferences. The study found Feelers communicate significantly more with, and feel significantly closer to, parents than do Thinkers. Feeling daughters have more communication and greater closeness with parents than Thinking daughters. Feeling sons report more closeness with mothers than Thinking sons, and more communication and greater closeness to fathers than Thinking daughters. Daughters report more communication and closeness with mothers than sons. Suggestions for future research include using a much larger sample of strong temperament typed respondents.

Disciplines

Communication

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