The purpose of this study was to better understand the nature of relationships between young adults and their parents. Two issues in the kin and intergenerational literature provided direction for the investigation. First, major changes appear to be occurring in the nature of intergenerational bonds in American families. Second, the subjective aspects of intergenerational relationships have received considerably less attention and explanation than the more quantifiable ones. / The study was conducted in an exploratory manner, utilizing demographic data and a depth interview. The interview was partially structured with topics and probes related to relationship dimensions and actual contact patterns. The interview was sufficiently flexible to pursue ideas and topics that emerged as the interview progressed. A purposive sample of twenty multi-generation families was recruited through nine large churches in a medium size Southern city. A total of forty-seven persons were interviewed. In each family a married son or daughter and one or both parents served as respondents. / Data were analyzed with a flexible filing system designed to identify and conceptually understand significant qualitative aspects of intergenerational relationships. The analysis generated a major conceptual theme and four related concepts that appear useful in understanding change in parent-offspring relationships as offspring progress through adolescence and into adulthood. The conceptual theme is identified as the redefinition of parent-offspring relationships and the four concepts are affectional bonds, parent-offspring involvement, communication openness, and communication directiveness. The data suggest that the redefinition process is accentuated during two vital life-cycle transitions: the offspring's leaving the parental home and the offspring's assumption of parenthood. The offspring's leaving home involved major decisions in regard to occupation, education, and marriage. Of the twenty families, about 35 percent experienced significant stress and differences of opinion around the time of the offspring's leaving. The data suggested that a fit between the parent's "letting go" and the offspring's assumption of responsibility for decisions is related to the manner in which the transition is dealt with. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-02, Section: A, page: 0557. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74758 |
| Contributors | HOSKINS, GEORGE WILSON., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 218 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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