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Intergenerational transmission of parenting style
Author
Teo, Bee Khim
Supervisor
Tan, Wee Kiat
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the intergenerational transmission of parenting styles, particularly maternal parenting styles, transmitted from the grandmothers onto mothers. The sample consisted of thirty-one mother- child dyads who were involved in counselling at eight local social-service agencies.
The main variable used in this study was the measure of maternal parenting styles, which was based on a four-fold typology of authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent and neglecting styles. Other variables were employed in this study to examine their effects on the transmission. They were: paternal involvement, as perceived separately by both mothers and teenagers, perceived grandmother's effectiveness and perceived grandfather's involvement in the parenting of the mothers, as well as demographic variables like maternal employment, maternal educational level and the family's socio-economics status.
Evidence for intergenerational transmission was found for this sample, but it was mediated by the variables: mother's perception of husband's involvement, mother's perception of grandmother's effectiveness and maternal employment. Transmissions of authoritarian and neglecting styles were found from grandmothers onto mothers, when the husband's involvement was low. On the other hand, when the mothers perceived their husband's involvement as high, they were able to exert greater control on their children, and there was also indication of a change in the degree of indulgence in the maternal styles.
Whether the mothers perceived their mothers to be effective in parenting was also important in determining the transmission of styles. When the grandmothers were perceived to be effective, instead of a transmission of styles, there was evidence in the change in degree of authoritarian and indulgence in the maternal parenting styles. This was attributed to either an unconscious practising of parenting styles or inapplicability of styles that they deemed effective, on their children.
The third variable that was found to mediate intergenerational transmission of parenting styles was maternal employment. Change in the degree of maternal indulgence was found in the group of employed mothers, which could be attributed to their perception of authoritative style as effective and their socialisation with coworkers to gain knowledge on alternative parenting styles.
No evidence was found for intergenerational differences in the maternal parenting styles and the level of paternal interaction in this sample.
The sample can be divided into two groups, depending on the type of counselling that they were involved in. Teenagers who were convicted of antisocial behaviours were involved in mandatory counselling. The other group of teenagers were from the 'walk-in' cases, which means that they came at the suggestion of their parents who faced problems in the parenting of their teens. Comparisons were made between these two groups of mothers. Results of this study showed that they differed in the degree of indulgence in their parenting styles, Mothers from the mandatory group were found more indulgent than mothers from the other group.
From this study, it seems likely that parenting styles were transmitted across generations. However, spousal support and maternal employment were important factors that mediate the process, by possibly introducing alternative parenting styles into the mother's awareness.
The main variable used in this study was the measure of maternal parenting styles, which was based on a four-fold typology of authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent and neglecting styles. Other variables were employed in this study to examine their effects on the transmission. They were: paternal involvement, as perceived separately by both mothers and teenagers, perceived grandmother's effectiveness and perceived grandfather's involvement in the parenting of the mothers, as well as demographic variables like maternal employment, maternal educational level and the family's socio-economics status.
Evidence for intergenerational transmission was found for this sample, but it was mediated by the variables: mother's perception of husband's involvement, mother's perception of grandmother's effectiveness and maternal employment. Transmissions of authoritarian and neglecting styles were found from grandmothers onto mothers, when the husband's involvement was low. On the other hand, when the mothers perceived their husband's involvement as high, they were able to exert greater control on their children, and there was also indication of a change in the degree of indulgence in the maternal styles.
Whether the mothers perceived their mothers to be effective in parenting was also important in determining the transmission of styles. When the grandmothers were perceived to be effective, instead of a transmission of styles, there was evidence in the change in degree of authoritarian and indulgence in the maternal parenting styles. This was attributed to either an unconscious practising of parenting styles or inapplicability of styles that they deemed effective, on their children.
The third variable that was found to mediate intergenerational transmission of parenting styles was maternal employment. Change in the degree of maternal indulgence was found in the group of employed mothers, which could be attributed to their perception of authoritative style as effective and their socialisation with coworkers to gain knowledge on alternative parenting styles.
No evidence was found for intergenerational differences in the maternal parenting styles and the level of paternal interaction in this sample.
The sample can be divided into two groups, depending on the type of counselling that they were involved in. Teenagers who were convicted of antisocial behaviours were involved in mandatory counselling. The other group of teenagers were from the 'walk-in' cases, which means that they came at the suggestion of their parents who faced problems in the parenting of their teens. Comparisons were made between these two groups of mothers. Results of this study showed that they differed in the degree of indulgence in their parenting styles, Mothers from the mandatory group were found more indulgent than mothers from the other group.
From this study, it seems likely that parenting styles were transmitted across generations. However, spousal support and maternal employment were important factors that mediate the process, by possibly introducing alternative parenting styles into the mother's awareness.
Date Issued
2000
Call Number
HQ755.8 Teo
Date Submitted
2000