The Value of Children for Parents in the Minds of Emerging Adults

Abstract

The value that children have for parents (i.e., social/traditional, economic/ utilitarian, and psychological—value of children [VOC]) is important in shedding light on parental goals and expectations regarding children, intergenerational relationships and a host of related factors that reflect the place of the child in family and society. VOCs also figure prominently in a theory of family change which informs this study. Young adults’ views regarding the value of children are important in the context of generational change. The present study focused on Turkish and American emerging adults, the former residing in urban/metropolitan, and rural settings. Students’ attitudes and values were compared to their perceptions of the attitudes and values of their parents. Comparisons across generations, cultures, and SES levels reflected changes over time and across geographical regions. Both differences and similarities between American and Turkish samples were obtained as well as between urban and rural settings. Differences in VOC across generations and socioeconomic/cultural comparison groups provided some support for Kagitcibasi’s family change theory.