Family Cohesion in Adulthood as a Function of Parenting Style in Childhood and Enduring Personality Traits

Abstract

This study examined family cohesion in adulthood as a function of both parenting style in childhood and enduring personality traits. One hundred and ninety eight college freshmen completed measures assessing their parents’ communication strategies during childhood, the strength of their families’ cohesion during adulthood, and their enduring personality traits. Authoritative parenting was positively associated with family cohesion; this association was stronger for individuals with higher scores of conscientiousness and nonsignificant for individuals with higher scores for neuroticism. In addition, authoritarian parenting was only significantly and negatively associated with family cohesion at high levels of conscientiousness.