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With increasing globalization, researchers are beginning to document the changing patterns of family life in collectivistic societies undergoing rapid economic development, such as India. With these changes, expectations of romantic relationships are also shifting as individuals re-calibrate their gender roles and attitudes towards romantic relationships to meet the challenges of modern society. Yet, not enough is known about the younger generation of collectivist youth and their evolving romantic habits and preferences. Therefore, the overarching goal of this thesis was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of cultural and familial influences in selecting a marital partner, maintaining a relationship, endorsing romantic beliefs, and anticipating future difficulties in marital life. In collectivist cultures, families tend to be characterized by respect for parental authority and strong, interdependent ties. Do these aspects of collectivism exert countervailing pressures on mate choices and relationship quality? In Study 1, I tested my predictions on a British sample by dividing participants into high or low collectivist groups based on their heritage cultural background, whereas in Study 2 I recruited participants from India and the United States. In both studies, I found that collectivism was associated with greater acceptance of parental influence over mate choice, thereby driving relationship commitment down, but collectivism was also associated with stronger family ties (referred to as family allocentrism), which drove commitment up (Study 2). Along similar lines, Study 1 found that collectivists’ greater acceptance of parental influence on mate choice contributed to their reduced relationship passion, whereas Study 2 found that their greater family allocentrism may have enhanced their passion. Study 2 also revealed that collectivists may have reported a smaller discrepancy between their own preferences for mates high in warmth and trustworthiness and their perception of their parents’ preferences for these qualities because of their stronger family allocentrism. However, their higher tolerance of parental V influence may have also contributed to a smaller discrepancy in their mate preferences versus their perceptions of their parents’ preferences for qualities signifying status and resources. Studies 3 and 4 moved away from familial dynamics and took a closer look at the cultural values of collectivism and gender role ideology. Previous studies have established that Indians tend to be greater in collectivism and gender role traditionalism than Americans. The purpose of Studies 3 and 4 was to examine whether these differences explained further cultural differences in romantic beliefs, traditional mate preferences, and anticipation of future difficulties in marital life. Results for both studies revealed that Indians reported greater collectivism than Americans and, in turn, held stronger romantic beliefs. Additionally, Indians’ greater collectivism, endorsement of more traditional gender roles and benevolent sexism in part predicted their preferences for a marital partner possessing traditional characteristics. Collectivism and gender role traditionalism accounted for Indians’ heightened concerns about encountering future difficulties in marital life in Study 3, while in Study 4 only collectivism explained these concerns. Overall, the results from these four studies shed light on the processes underlying cultural differences in relationship attitudes and preferences, and point to the need for greater cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity that exists in relationship functioning across societies.

Heavy drinking behaviors have been observed in relation to fraternity and sorority membership. Some have argued that this relationship persists as a result of the drinking-conducive social environments of Greek organizations, but others have suggested that this relationship may be spurious. Using data from The Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (n = 10,904) the link between Greek affiliation, alcohol consumption, and parental influence was examined through the lens of social learning theory. It was hypothesized that members of Greek organizations would report higher levels of drinking compared to others and that the inclusion of the variable of parental influence would effectively render this relationship spurious. The results reveal a strong relationship between Greek affiliation and drinking behaviors, but parental influence failed to sufficiently account for this relationship.

African-American females are the least active segment of the population during their high school years (Bush et al., 2004), with a decline in activity nearly twice that of Caucasian girls (Kimm et al., 2002). Differences in activity choice and participation are observed among ethnic groups during adolescence (Goldsmith, 2003), and given that parents serve as role models, providers, and as interpreters of sport and physical activity experiences (Eccles & Harold, 1991), it is important to examine whether parents perceive certain activities to be more culturally appropriate than others. African-Americans may ascribe different values to physical activity, and may have the desire to reject the dominant culture's "white identity" (Corbett & Calloway, 2006). The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first purpose was to explore the types of value mothers of high school age African-American girls place on sport and physical activity participation. The second purpose was to gain a better understanding of the mother's social perceptions of what activities are culturally appropriate for their daughters. Three research were explored: (1) What values do mothers of African-American adolescent girls place on sport and physical activity?, (2) Are certain sport/activities considered by African-American mothers to be more culturally appropriate than others?, and (3) What common characteristics do culturally appropriate activities possess? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of sport participants, sport non-participants, and participants in activities involving physical activity (e.g. dance, step). Eccles' comprehensive model (1998) was a highly relevant theoretical framework through which to view the socialization of African-American females' activity choices. The subjective task value associated with an activity is comprised of utility value, interest value, attainment value, and cost (Eccles & Harold, 1991). Each of the four types of value identified by Eccles' theory was supported by the data in study. Respondents ascribed each type of value to sport/physical activity regardless of their daughters' participation. Utility value for sport and physical activity was characterized by health/appearance, occupying time/staying out of trouble, and sport as opportunity for scholarships and career opportunities. Interest value was characterized by affiliation, perceived acceptance, and mothers' physical activity/sport experience and family structure. Attainment value was characterized by self-perceptions, and cost was characterized by money, academics/time, injury, and appearance. Finally, in order for an activity to an activity to be deemed culturally appropriate, it must be accessible, provide opportunities for relatedness, and be perceived to be culturally appropriate by other members of the culture.

Identifying modifiable factors associated with physical activity (PA) is necessary to develop effective behaviour change interventions to promote PA. We examined the associations between parental support, parental control, youth’s self-efficacy, enjoyment, and PA participation in- and out-of-school. Data for our cross-sectional study were collected via self-report questionnaires from 602 youth (Mage=13.4 years; SD=.6) and analyzed using path analysis. We found that parental support and parental control indirectly influenced youth’s PA via self-efficacy and enjoyment. Specifically, parental control negatively influenced youth’s self-efficacy and enjoyment (β=-.12 to -.15), whereas parental support positively influenced youth’s self-efficacy and enjoyment (β=.18 to .31). Also, youth’s self-efficacy and enjoyment positively influenced PA performed in- and out-of-school (β=.12 to .26). Our findings suggest parental supportive and controlling behaviours affect youth’s self-efficacy and enjoyment, which in turn influence PA participation in different settings. Promoting parental support, while reducing parental control, may effectively increase youth’s participation in PA.

The main aim of this study is to contribute to understanding of family influence on mate choice and satisfaction in long-term relationship. Studies suggest that family has significant influence on mate choice. According to the theory of sexual imprinting, individual create an image of the opposite sex parent during early childhood, which is in adulthood used as a template for partner choice (Bereczkei et al., 2002). However, in accordance with phenotype matching theory, the preference for similar traits like parents have, could be preferences for self-similarity, because they share with parents a half of genom. So it could means, that they prefer self-similar traits more than parent-similar traits (Rushton, 1989). Fourty nine couples participated in our research and also partner and parents of our respondents filled a set of standardized questionnaires. In the second study women evaluated male somatotypes and completed a questionnaire on the relationship with their father during childhood. The study showed many interesting results. Studyies aimed on sexual imprinting have focused only on the influence of the opposite sex parent (Wiszewska et al., 2007), however, we found that the parent of same sex influences partner choice of their offspring too. These findings support more the phenotypic matching...

Master of Public Health - MPH / South Africa is overwhelmed by the increase of substance abuse among adolescents. Having consulted the literature, South Africa is not the only country faced with this problem. It raises concerns with regard to the social health of adolescents in this country. In order to develop effective intervention strategies to reduce the wide spread abuse of substances, it is important to first understand how adolescents perceive this problem. In this study the perceptions of boys will be explored with regard, to substance abuse among adolescents.

Thesis advisor: Latrica Best / This research project examines the sociological factors that contribute to how Boston College undergraduate students choose their majors. Based on previous research, parental influence has typically been a major factor when students choose their majors. Using rational choice theory, I expand on previous research by examining how parental influence and other sociological factors, such as perceptions of the job market and high school education socialization, impact the selection of college majors. In order to conduct this study, I interviewed twenty three Boston College undergraduate students (freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors). All participants were from four Boston College undergraduate schools: Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and Connell School of Nursing. Results show that parental influence is the primary factor in the selection of majors by students. However, within parental influence, the influence that parents have is not so much about whether students are enjoying their subject and finding passion, but the influence of the job market has been still a huge factor in the way students feel about their education. As we live in a more volatile economy and live in a competitive world where individuals strive to be the best, this study provides important insight into how college students choose their majors and how external factors outside of the college environment affect students’ decisions regarding careers. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2023. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

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