Gary W. Peterson

Parent-Child Socialization

The parent—child relationship initiates a child into the social world and reshapes components of the adult self-concept into identification with parental roles. Much of what occurs between parents and children transforms a biological organism into a human being and confronts adults with a new set of experiences and responsibilities. Through this facet of the socialization process, parents and children acquire the knowledge, attitudes, skills, values, and expectations that allow them to become increasingly integrated into new social relationships.

Adolescents’ Perceptions of Parental Behaviors as Predictors of Adolescent Self-Esteem in Mainland China

Parents’ child-rearing behaviors have been identified as major sources of influence on the self-esteem of adolescents from Western societies and Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. The pattern of relationships found in samples of Hong Kong adolescents has been similar to the pattern found among samples of U.S. adolescents, but contrary to what might be expected in collectivistic societies such as mainland China. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to test specific dimensions of parenting behaviors as possible predictors of adolescents’ self-esteem in mainland China. Self-report data were acquired for this study from 480 adolescents who attended secondary schools located in Beijing. Results indicated that patterns of socialization between parents and adolescents in mainland China were similar to those found in the United States, although explanations for these results may differ from those characteristic of the United States and other Western societies. Reasoning, monitoring, and autonomy-granting behavior by Chinese parents were positive predictors, whereas punitiveness was a negative predictor of Chinese adolescents’ self-esteem (both males and females). Contrasting with patterns commonly found in the United States was the finding that parental support was not a predictor of Chinese adolescents’ self-esteem.

Children's Self-Esteem and Maternal Behavior in Three Low-Income Samples:

This study examined the relationships between childrens perceptions of maternal child-rearing behavior and a measure of childrens self-esteem within low-income samples. Three cohort samples of 2,194 fifth and sixth grade children from rural Appalachia were surveyed. Siegelmans analysis of the Bronfenbrenner Parent Behavior Questionnaire (Cornell Parent Behavior Inventory) was used to operationalize childrens perceptions of maternal loving, demanding, and punishing behaviors. Childrens self-esteem was measured with the Lipsitt Self-concept Scale. Multiple regression analysis was used to replicate the findings within each of the three samples. In general, the maternal loving and demanding dimensions exhibited positive relationships, while maternal punishment was negatively correlated with childrens self-esteem.

Parent-youth power dimensions and the behavioral autonomy of adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) whether adolescents were perceived by parents as having power, and (b) whether dimensions of adolescent and parental power predicted teenagers behavioral autonomy. Ouestionnaire data were collected from a sample of 392 adolescents and their parents. Factor analysis and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that adolescents were perceived by their parents as having expert, legitimate, referent, reward, and coercive power. In addition, adolescent and parental power predicted the progress of adolescents toward behavioral autonomy from parents. A major conclusion from these findings was that adolescents are capable of becoming autonomous while retaining close ties with parents.

Professional Networks and Hiring Patterns at Top-Rated Family Science Programs

This paper is an attempt to illuminate seueral icleas about prolbssional networhs in family science programs. DrLta were gathered f rom facuity in a number of family science departments as part of a surLcy of prominent programs. tt was discouered that there uere fbtu chairpersons or mentors who could be identif ied as hauing Leadership for a large proportion of professionaLs in the field. Insteacj, focuLtt members seemed to haue been trained by a tt,ide uariee of indiuiduals. Based on the connectiue hiring patterns of prominent ftamily science progroms, suggestions are made about tchich schools seem to procluce sought afier gradu.ates. Seteral implications are su,ggested fb, students considering dilferent doctoral programs in famiLy science.