College Students' Attitudes toward Relationships with Their Parents as a Function of Gender

Abstract

The relation with one's parents is perhaps the most important variable in predicting future interpersonal relationships. To measure current attitudes toward relationships with parents 34 college men and 55 women from general psychology were administered two statements: “My relationship with my MOTHER can best be described as Great!, Good, Average, Poor, Awful!,” and “My relationship with my FATHER can best be described as Great!, Good, Average, Poor, Awful!” Sign tests showed significantly higher ratings for relationships with mothers (Good) than with fathers (Average to Good). Also, sons rated their relationships with their mothers (Good) as significantly better than with their fathers (Average to Good), yet daughters rated mothers and fathers about equally (Average to Good). The data are interpreted in terms of social learning theory and psychoanalytic theory.