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Before going over the results of our study it is important to know the basic demographic
information for the participants in our study. Figure 1 is a pie chart showing the ratio of male to
female participants in our study.
Figure 1. Male and Female Participants in Study. This shows the ratio of females and males
who participated in the study.
This figure shows that the majority of the participants in our study were female, which is likely
to have some effect on the results since they are not a full representation of both genders equally.
Figure 2 shows the ages of the participant in our study and Figure 3 shows the variety of family
structures and how frequently they occur.
Figure 2. Age of Participants. The range of participants was from 18 to 22 years of age.
Figure 3. Family Structure of Participants. Frequency of results of each family structure
Figure 3 shows that most of the participants in our study had a nuclear family growing up, which
makes the data slightly less reliable because there is not much variety in the family structures and
one of the structures (nuclear family) was obviously the dominant structure within our
participants.
In our survey questions 13-39 tested the warmth of the participants from their parents.
Figure 4 shows the results of levels of warmth for each parent.
Figure 4. Warmth Toward Parents Based on Family Structure. This shows the mean and
mode for nuclear moms and dads as well as divorced moms and dads. (There was no mode
for divorced dads)
This figure shows that based on the mean, warmth is highest toward mothers with participants
whose parents are divorced. This is probably due to the fact that we had so many more nuclear
family participants than divorced (as seen in Figure 3), making the mean not the best
representation of the data. A much more reliable representation of the data is the mode. Though
there was no mode for divorced dads, the data shows that many more people from nuclear
families rated their parents on a higher level of warmth than with divorced families.
Next we wanted to see if the age that our participants parents divorced affected the
warmth they felt from their parents now as seen in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Age of Divorce vs. Level of Warmth. Compares the age of participants when their
parents divorced to average warmth levels.
This shows that the older the participant was when their parents divorced, the lower the level of
warmth. The only exception being at age 12, which is due to the fact that 12 was a mean because
there were multiple participants who said their parents divorced at this age. The trend line and
most of the points make it clear that the older a child is when their parents are divorced, the
lower the levels of warmth.
Number 5 on our survey asked participants to tell us how many siblings they have, so we
compared number of siblings to levels of warmth in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Number of Siblings vs. Level of Warmth. Displays number of siblings compared
to average level of warmth.
Our participants ranged in number of siblings from none to four, and as seen in the above figure
the more siblings that someone has, the lower their levels of warmth towards their parents.
People with three or four siblings had significantly lower levels of warmth then those who had
two or less siblings. It is also important to note that the participants with three siblings had a very
low average level of warmth.
Figures 7 and 8 shows the frequency of answers to question number 6 on the survey,
which asks, You are back in high school at a party where there is underage drinking (including
you) and your designated driver (DD) has decided to drink. Who would you call first to come
pick you up?
Figure 7. Nuclear Families. Shows the results for question 6 with nuclear families.
The results show that the two most common answers for this question are that they would call
their mother or father first. This shows that the participants feel that their parents will support
them in situations where they feel they need help. This also shows that they trust their parents to
actually give the support they need instead of leaving them to fend for themselves.
Figure 8. Non-Nuclear Families. Displays the results of question 6 for non-nuclear families.
The results for non-nuclear families are very similar to the results for nuclear families; some of
this may once again have to do with what was shown in Figure 3. There are many more
participants who had a nuclear family growing up and therefore the non-nuclear families results
cannot average out as well as the nuclear families. However, according to our results, the
participants coming from non-nuclear families were just as trusting of the support of their parents
as nuclear participants.
Figures 9 and 10 show the results for nuclear and non-nuclear families to question 8,
which reads, When you were in high school how often did your parents ask you where you were
going?
Figure 9. When you were in high school how often did your parents ask you where you
were going? (Nuclear Families). Shows frequency of responses for nuclear families.
Figure 10. When you were in high school how often did your parents ask you where you
were going? (Non-Nuclear Families). Shows results for non-nuclear families.
The figures above show that parents from nuclear families were more likely to ask their children
where they were going all of the time, which slightly shows the type of parenting. This means the
parents from non-nuclear families were slightly less involved in their childrens lives according
to our participants.
Figures 11 and 12 display the results to question 7 on our survey.
Figure 11. When you were in high school how often did you tell your parents where you
were going? (Nuclear Families). This displays the results to this question for participants
with nuclear families.
More participants with nuclear families told their parents where they were going all of the time
than any other answer. This shows that they are honest and trusting of their parents.
Figure 13. Now that you are in high school how often do you tell your parents where you
are going? Results for participants with a nuclear family.
Figure 14. Now that you are in high school how often do you tell your parents where you
are going? (Non-Nuclear Families) Results from participants with non-nuclear families.
The results for this question were very similar for both family structures. Though the nuclear
participants answered most of the time slightly more, they also answered never a little more.
This again could be referenced to the issue shown in Figure 3, but it also shows that although
now that they are in college and are more independent, they still likely tell their parents when
they are doing something important in both instances.
Next we looked at how much our participants trusted their parents comparatively with
Figures 15 and 16.
Figure 15. How much do you trust your parents on a scale from 1-10? (Nuclear Families) In
this scale 1 is not at all and 10 is completely.
This shows that in nuclear families most people are very trusting of their parents but some people
do not trust their parents very much at all.
Figure 16. How much do you trust your parents on a scale from 1-10? (Non-Nuclear
Families). This scale 1 is not at all and 10 is completely.
According to this graph, non-nuclear participants are slightly more trusting of their parents than
the participants who are from nuclear families, which again could have something to do with
Figure 3.
Next we compared communication between the participants and their parents based on
how often they talk just to talk, not to actually get information out of one another. Figures 17 and
18 show how often each family structure communicates.
Figure 17. How often do you contact your parents just to talk? (Nuclear Families). Shows
communication between parents and children of nuclear families.
Figure 18. How often do you contact your parents just to talk? (Non-Nuclear Families).
Shows communication between parents and children of non-nuclear families.
These figures show that participants from nuclear families contacted their parents just to talk
much more often than participants from non-nuclear families showing that their relationship is
not as good as those from nuclear families.
Lastly we went over the answers for number 11 asking participants to list shared
activities with their parents if they had any and the results are in Table 1.
Table 1. Shared Activities. This shows the percentages of answers.
Nuclear Families
Non-Nuclear Families
Has a shared activity with mom
36.73%
47.37%
34.69%
36.84%
14.29%
5.26%
14.29%
10.53%
This table shows that participants from non-nuclear families had more shared activities with their
parents than participants with nuclear families, which may be true or it may be due to a
discrepancy shown in Figure 3. It also could be possible that people may have just decided they
did not want to answer a question that required a written response. All in all, our data is a little
contradictory because some pieces of our survey show that participants with nuclear families
have a better relationship and some show the exact opposite.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS
As previous research has shown, the family structure in America continues to change, and
nuclear families are becoming rarer (Lansford, Ceballo, Abbey & Stewart, 2001). Because
family structures are changing, it is important to investigate whether the structure of a family
affects the relationship between parent and child, as this relationship is one of the most important
in life. In addition, while a lot of research focuses on younger children and adolescence,
examining the impact of the family structure on the quality of the parent-child relationship when
the individual is an emerging adult might lead to a better understanding of how the quality of the
relationship fairs over time. This studys goal was to examine the impact that family structure
during childhood has on the parent-child relationship when an individual has reached emerging
adulthood. The hypothesis stated that individuals growing up in a nuclear home in which two
biological parents are present will have a much better relationship with their parents than those
people growing up in a non-traditional home. This hypothesis was formed with the knowledge
that individuals growing up in a two-parent home generally experience greater socioeconomic
References
Amato, P. R. (2005). The impact of family formation change on the cognitive, social, and
emotional well-being of the next generation. Future Of Children, 15, 75-96.
Consent Form
This is a research project conducted by Sarah Mickelberry, Sarah Rohrer, and Cora Munizza and
is under the direction of Dr. Hoskins faculty member in the Department of Family and Consumer
Science at Bridgewater College. You are being asked to participate in a study concerned with
parent-child relationships. In this study, you will be given an anonymous survey about the
relationship between you and your parent(s) and/or guardian. This survey will ask you about
multiple aspects in that relationship. This survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to
complete.
The risks in this research study are very minor, such as recalling childhood memories that could
be unpleasant or uncomfortable. Your responses will remain confidential and will only be
identified in the data as a research number. The data from the research study will not be
published and no connection to your identity will be required. The data you provide will only be
used for FCS 400 class purposes.
Other than learning about parent-child relationships there are no immediate benefits to
participants in this project.
This research study is completely voluntary. You may choose to stop your participation at any
time prior to the completion of the study without penalty. Your participation is appreciated.
If you have any questions please contact Sarah Mickelberry, Sarah Rohrer, and/or Cora Munizza
at smm013@eagles.bridgewater.edu, smr003 eagles.bridgewater.edu,
cfm001eagles.bridgewater.edu or if you prefer, you may contact Dr. Hoskins at
dhancock@bridgewater.edu.
e
f
g
21
22
23 or older
i 4. If your parents are not still together how old were you when they separated/divorced?
j
k 5. How many siblings do you have?
l
m 6. You are back in high school at a party where there is underage drinking (including you)
and your designated driver (DD) has decided to drink. Who would you call first to come
pick you up?
n a. Mom
r e. Stick with the DD
o b. Dad
s f. Other (please specify)
p c. Other family member
______________
q d. Sibling
t
7. When you were in high school, how often did you tell your parents where you were
going?
u a. Always
x d. Rarely
v b. Most of the time
y e. Never
w c. Sometimes
z
8. When you were in high school how often did your parents ask you where you were
going?
aa a. Always
ad d. Rarely
ab b. Most of the time
ae e. Never
ac c. Sometimes
af
ag
ah
ai
9. Now that you are in college how often do you tell your parents where you are going?
a. Always
aj d. Rarely
b. Most of the time
ak e. Never
c. Sometimes
13. How often do you and your mother share a laugh together?
a. Very often
bb d. Rarely
b. Often
bc e. Never
c. Sometimes
bd
be
bf
bg
14. How often do you and your mother participate in a shared activity together?
a. Very often
bh d. Rarely
b. Often
bi e. Never
c. Sometimes
bj 15. How often does your mother tell you I love you?
bk a. Very often
bn d. Rarely
bl b. Often
bo e. Never
bm c. Sometimes
bp
bq
br
bs
16. How often does your mother let you know she really cares about you?
a. Very often
bt d. Rarely
b. Often
bu e. Never
c. Sometimes
bv 17. How often does your mother listen to your point of view?
bw a. Very often
bz d. Rarely
bx b. Often
ca e. Never
by c. Sometimes
cf d. Rarely
cg e. Never
ch
ci
cj
ck
cn
co
cp
cq
20. How often does your mother criticize you or your ideas?
a. Very often
cr d. Rarely
b. Often
cs e. Never
c. Sometimes
ct
cu
cv
cw
21. How often does your mother slap or hit you with her hands?
a. Very often
cx d. Rarely
b. Often
cy e. Never
c. Sometimes
22. How often do you and your father share a laugh together?
a. Very often
de d. Rarely
b. Often
df e. Never
c. Sometimes
dg
dh
di
dj
23. How often do you and your father participate in a shared activity together?
a. Very often
dk d. Rarely
b. Often
dl e. Never
c. Sometimes
dm 24. How often does your father tell you I love you?
dn a. Very often
dq d. Rarely
do b. Often
dr e. Never
dp c. Sometimes
ds 25. How often does your father let you know he really cares about you?
dw d. Rarely
dx e. Never
dy 26. How often does your father listen to your point of view?
dz a. Very often
ea b. Often
eb c. Sometimes
ee
ef
eg
eh
ec d. Rarely
ed e. Never
30. How often does your father slap or hit you with his hands?
a. Very often
fb d. Rarely
b. Often
fc e. Never
c. Sometimes
fd If you answered the mother section, father section, or both skip this last section. If
your legal guardian(s) is not your parents answer this section
fe
ff
fg
fh
31. How often do you and your guardian share a laugh together?
a. Very often
fi d. Rarely
b. Often
fj e. Never
c. Sometimes
fk
fl
fm
fn
32. How often do you and your guardian participate in a shared activity together?
a. Very often
fo d. Rarely
b. Often
fp e. Never
c. Sometimes
33. How often does your guardian tell you I love you?
a. Very often
fu d. Rarely
b. Often
fv e. Never
c. Sometimes
fw
fx
fy
fz
34. How often does your guardian let you know they really care about you?
a. Very often
ga d. Rarely
b. Often
gb e. Never
c. Sometimes
gc
gd
ge
gf
35. How often does your guardian listen to your point of view?
a. Very often
gg d. Rarely
b. Often
gh e. Never
c. Sometimes
gi
gj
gk
gl
go
gp
gq
gr
gu 38. How often does your guardian criticize you or your ideas?
gv a. Very often
gy d. Rarely
gw b. Often
gz e. Never
gx c. Sometimes
ha 39. How often does your guardian slap or hit you with their hands?
hb a. Very often
hd c. Sometimesd. Rarely
hc b. Often
he e. Never
hf