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Intergenerational work security and marital values transmission: Mothers and their children in Detroit, 1977--1985

This project provides an extension of a line of sociological and socio-psychological research addressing attitudinal and value formation at the interface of two life domains, employment and family. The main purpose of the present study is two-fold. First, I investigate causal mechanisms involved in economic and marriage value formation based on propositions made by the proponents of the attitudinal spill-over ('holistic') theory and Rokeach's (1973) value reinforcement hypothesis Second, I examine similarities and differences in the manifestation of these processes between two generations, mothers and their children, illustrating intergenerational value stability and change within the family. Resting on the abstract notion of 'social contract' as applied to employment and marriage, this project therefore illuminates the similarities between the two institutions and their interdomain effects Based on data from a panel Detroit Study of American Families, analyses of value formation mechanisms reveal significant differences between the two generations, providing mixed support to the value spill-over theory. Moreover, this project supplies evidence contrary to the value reinforcement thesis as developed in socio-psychological research on work/family experiences and attitudes, thus calling for continuing examination of these processes in various settings and among diverse populations in future research This study offers additional support to several propositions regarding attitudinal and value exchange within the family. Among those are the distinction between family objective characteristics and individual family members' perceptions thereof; the cross-over causal mechanisms characteristic of exchanges among family members; and the mediating role personal experiences play in the link between larger economic transitions and individual values. In light of these findings, this project underscores the need for further exploration of the work/family domains in their objective and subjective dimensions as mutually interdependent / acase@tulane.edu

  1. tulane:23469
Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_23469
Date January 2007
ContributorsHall, Anna A (Author), Bankston, Carl (Thesis advisor)
PublisherTulane University
Source SetsTulane University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
RightsAccess requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law

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