ERIC ED472516: Educating Students about Parents: Husbands' Versus Wives' Attitudes about Self.

13 Pages·2003·0.23 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 472 516
CG 032 146
AUTHOR
Arena, Jordan; Black, Aimee; Dantonio, Kelley; Farrell, Debi;
Fleming, Hillary; Fontanez, Mary; Gelband, Amy; Sosnowski,
Jane; McCauley, Joy; Nyce, Susan; Chambliss, Catherine
Educating Students about Parents: Husbands' Versus Wives'
TITLE
Attitudes about Self.
PUB DATE
2003-00-00
NOTE
llp
PUB TYPE
Information Analyses (070)
Reports
Research (143)
EDRS PRICE
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Attitudes; Family Influence; *Locus of Control; Marriage;
*Self Concept; *Self Esteem; *Sex. Differences; *Spouses
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the attitudes of both males and females
regarding their perceptions of themselves, spouse and locus of control, and
the role that children may play in that assessment. To determine if men and
women view themselves differently subsequent to having children, the
Rosenberg self concept scale, the Ferguson Locus of Control scale, and
author-devised life satisfaction items were administered to 171 married
parents between the ages of 30 and 70. Between group t-tests revealed no
significant differences between husbands and wives on the measures of self
esteem, locus of control, and perceptions of weight problems and sleep
deprivation. T-tests did reveal that husbands were more likely than wives to
report feeling they got insufficient exercise, and wives were more likely to
report feeling that their spouses spent an excessive amount time viewing
sports on television. Wives were significantly more likely than husbands to
report feeling that they had sacrificed career for family. Correlational
analyses were performed in order to assess the relationship between locus of
control and self-esteem for both groups of participants. A significant
relationship between these variables was obtained for both male and female
participants of this study. (Contains 22 references and 2 tables.)
(Author)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the ori inal document.
Educating Students about Parents:
Husbands' Versus Wives' Attitudes About Self
Farrell
Jordan Arena, Aimee Black, Kelley Dantonio, Debi
Hillary Fleming, Mary Fontanez, Amy Gelband, Jane Sosnowski
Ph.D.
Joy McCauley, Susan Nyce & Catherine Chambliss,
Ursinus College
2003
Abstract
their perceptions of
This study assessed the attitudes of both males and females regarding
play in that
themselves, spouse and locus of control, and the role that children may
view themselves differently subsequent to
assessment. To determine if men and women
of Control scale,
having children, the Rosenberg self concept scale, the Ferguson Locus
administered to 171 married parents
and author-devised life satisfaction items were
significant
between the ages of 30 and 70. Between groups t- tests revealed no
self esteem, locus of control,
differences between husbands and wives on the measures of
did reveal that
and perceptions of weight problems and sleep deprivation. T-tests
insufficient exercise, and
husbands were more likely than wives to report feeling they got
excessive amount of
wives were more likely to report feeling that their spouses spent an
likely than husbands to
time viewing sports on television. Wives were significantly more
for family. Correlational analyses were
report feeling that they had sacrificed career
and self-esteem for
performed in order to assess the relationship between locus of control
variables was
both groups of participants. A significant relationship between these
obtained for both the male and female participants of this study.
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Office of Educational Research and Improvement
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Introduction
have been shown to influence a
Education, income, work status, age, and race
appropriate roles for men and women as well as family
persons' attitude toward socially
Potucheck, 1992;
Dugger, 1988; Glass, 1992; Kane, 1992;
structure (Collins, 1989;
Studies evaluating the relationship of
Wilkie, 1993).
Sorenson & McLanahan, 1987;
that maternal employment has an impact on these
labor in the family structure concluded
1984; Willetts-Bloom & Nock, 1994).
gender-related attitudes (Keith, 1988; Selkow,
forty-year time span, Thornton and Young-
In an examination of trends across a
toward
variety of family matters and how social attitudes
Demarco (2001) investigated a
the 1990's. Their study examined the cultural
these matters have changed from 1960 to
marriage, divorce, premarital sexual involvement,
and social changes in perspectives on
children born out of wedlock, and the
traditional gender roles, extramarital affairs,
children. While investigating these factors, this
decision of some couples not to bear
toward what constitutes freedom and how it is
study also looked at changes in attitude
gender was observed, as were changes in
defined. In addition, equality of roles across
including increasing social acceptance
family structure over time. General trend4 were,
the sexes, and greater endorsement of
of divorce, more equality in status across
cohabitate before marriage and couples
individualistic lifestyles. Couples who decide to
socially accepted and tolerated by
opting not to reproduce were found to be much more
also noted that many young adults still highly value
contemporary society. It was
interactions and responsibility.
marriage and respect the importance of family
decades, while societal demands
Egalitarianism has increased substantially recent
reduced. In the middle of the 1980's, the majority
for conformity have been significantly
high
marriage and good family life; both were seen as a
of Americans still valued a solid
Some Americans have suggested that a
priority (Hill & Yeung, 1999; Thornton, 1989).
This
traditional values and lifestyles might be valuable.
return to more conservative and
attitudes, such as those
opposed to many of today's more liberalized
group is generally
differences between Americans who
endorsing sexual relations out of wedlock. These
who support more traditional views of family
tend more toward egalitarianism and those
the "culture wars" that currently dominate
life have generated what has been described as
there is disagreement about whether or
American politics (Hunter, 1991). Additionally,
decline (K. Davis, 1937/1997; Durkheim, 1892/1978;
not the American family is in
in various ways that are not necessarily bad
Popenoe, 1988, 1993) or simply changing
1963/1970).
(Coontz, 2000; Fletcher, 1962/1973; Goode,
that both men and
The Thornton and Young-Demarco (2001) results suggest
in the
endorse more egalitarianism view of gender roles
women were more likely to
this shift in favor of egalitarianism leveled off in
1980s than in the 1960s. Interestingly,
slight reversal. Viewpoints on marriage varied
the late 1990's, with some indication of a
analysis. Although the desire to marry
widely among data sets and respondents in this
affecting marriage rates in America
later has been a steadily increasing and may be
rejected the idea that remaining single was
(which are decreasing), most those surveyed
married people were happier
beneficial. This study found growing disagreement over
3
continue to endorse the importance of a
than their single peers, yet most respondents
good marriage.
mixed. General acceptance of
Results regarding the attitudes toward divorce were
respondents also indicated that divorce
divorce has increased from 1987-1992, yet many
The data pertaining to premarital sex issues
should be reserved for extreme situations.
between unmarried individuals and broader
showed an increase in sexual activity
increased
1970's. Unmarried cohabitation has steadily
acceptance of it in the 1960's and
seniors surveyed not only indicated that
from 1970 to the 1990s. High school
it as a positive option and part of the
cohabitation was more acceptable, but also saw
with
Younger people show gender differences in attitudes,
process of deciding to marry.
than women on the issue of cohabitation.
men being less approving
analyses provide evidence that
Collectively the Thorton and Young-DeMarco
marriage, and children, and that a major
Americans emphasize commitment to family,
and bear children and take that
portion of young people are planning to marry
tolerance of differences among people in
commitment very seriously. Gender equality,
have played important roles in the
society, and increasing freedom and acceptance
The decision to marry and have children is no
changing of American concepts of family.
people in society, and many
longer seen as an expectation or necessity among most
families. Divorce has become
individuals are waiting longer to get married and start
Americans feel it should be reserved for fairly
increasingly more accepted, however most
unmarried adults have become widely
dire circumstances. Sexual relations among
subject to the stigma of previous
accepted and children born out of wedlock are not
widely accepted, and some Americans
decades. Unmarried cohabitation has also become
know a person before marriage by living
have indicated it may be preferable to get to
tolerant of extra marital affairs,
with them. The majority of Americans, however, are not
and consider such acts to be immoral.
that the increasing acceptance
Thornton and Young-Demarco (2001) hypothesize
restrictions placed on marriage may be a
of people's remaining single and the greater
having a family. A majority of
factor in people's waiting longer to marry and start
the primary responsibility for
Americans continue to indicate that men still have
employment has increased and
supporting the family, however acceptance of maternal
mothers as suffering.
fewer Americans view the children of employed
better understanding of the
The present study was performed in order to gain a
and spouse in adults. Parents make
relationship between gender and attitudes toward self
which
children. It is important to assess the extent to
numerous sacrifices for their
the burdens of parenting, in order to
mothers and fathers differ in how they perceive
adjust to their important role as
develop a better understanding of how to help parents
perceptions of the various sacrifices they had made
nurturer. This study explored parents'
differences between how fathers and mothers
in order to raise a family, and assessed
responded.
would score lower on measures of
This study also investigated whether women
control scores than their male counterparts.
self-esteem and obtain more external locus of
1966) has previously been shown to correlate with
An internal locus of control (Rotter,
well as with adolescents and children
better psychological adjustment in adults, as
relationship between parental and
(Morton, 1997). Many studies have focused on the
show little or no evidence of a
children's locus of control. Most of these studies
4
Phares,
Ackerman, 1989; Bar ling, 1982; Davis &
consistent relationship (Ackerman and
did
Loeb, 1975). However, 011endick (1979)
1969; Hoffman and Levy-Shiff, 1994;
related to their parents' beliefs.
conclude that a child's' control beliefs were
differences between men and women
Several previous studies have noted these
1995; Kling,
self esteem and locus of control (Mwamwenda,
on both measures of
1999). However, other studies (Stein, J. A.,
Shibley- Hyde, Showers, & Buswell,
Krampen, Galli, & Nigro, 1992) have failed to
Newcomb, M. D., & Bentler, P.M., 1992;
discern such gender differences.
sleep, and sex life were also
Husbands' and wives' satisfaction with weight,
assumed that women are more critical of their
assessed in the present study. It is widely
This belief is offered as a way of
bodies and weight than are their male counterparts.
disorders between males and females. It is also
explaining differential rates of eating
including
disproportionate share of child care duties,
often argued that mothers perform a
during the night. If this is true, we might
attending to children when problems arise
of rest they
fathers to report dissatisfaction with the amount
expect more mothers than
and wives' sexual expectations may create
get. Differences between husbands'
with sex life after having children. This
incongruencies between them in satisfaction
notions comparing fathers' and mothers'
study assessed the accuracies of these
lives.
perceptions of their weight, sleep, and sex
Method
Subjects:
The sample consisted of men
The subjects used in this study were 171 parents.
(x=42.58, s.d.=9.58). The mean
and women who ranged in age from 23 to 75 years
(sons' mean age= 13.8; daughters' mean
number of children for each parent was 2.09
age= 14.4).
Procedure:
subjects who volunteered at work
The packet used in this study was handed out to
the packet in its
neighborhoods. Participants were asked to fill out
or in their home
would be kept strictly confidential.
entirety, and were assured that all responses
demographic information and to
In part one, subjects were asked to provide
experiences and
their and their spouses' career and family
answer questions concerning
disclose information concerning
expectations. These questions also required subjects to
their job characteristics and work preferences.
the BACMEC questionnaire (Greenberger
Part two of the packet was made up of
Beliefs About the
is a 24-item scale developed to measure
et al., 1988). The BACMEC
Children. The BACMEC included beliefs
Consequences of Maternal Employment for
(n=375) have
(11 items). Studies of five samples
about both benefits (13 items) and costs
and
along with subscales are highly reliable
demonstrated that the total BACMEC scale
validity (Greenberger et al. 1988).
have good convergent, divergent, and concurrent
5
4-point Likert
In part three of the packet, subjects were asked to respond to ten
Subjects were also
scale items concerning their attitudes toward their mother and father.
during preschool years (0
asked to disclose information about their mother's work status
old). The subjects were asked to report
to 5 years old) and school years (6 to 18 years
employed outside the
whether their mothers were employed part-time, fulltime, or not
of financial
home during each stage of development, and if their mother's work was out
position, indicating
necessity. Subjects also disclosed information about their mother's
Subjects were also asked
whether it was professional, white collar, or blue- collar work.
raised in a single parent household.
to indicate whether or not they had been
Part four of the questionnaire consisted of the Mini Markers Five Factors
subject's
Personality Scale (Saucier, 1994), designed to give a quick assessment of the
alphabetized
personality according to the Big Five Trait model. This scale lists 40
personality traits, 8 applying to each of the five basic dimensions of personality,
affect), extraversion
including neuroticism (the general tendency to experience negative
(tendency to
(tendency to be sociable, assertive, active, and talkative), intellectance
and independent
display active imagination, aesthetic sensitivity, intellectual curiosity,
help
judgment), agreeableness (tendency to be altruistic, sympathetic, and eager to
and purposeful).
others), and conscientiousness (tendency to be organized, strong-willed,
Likert-format
The subjects rated the degree to which they possess each trait on a 9-point
scale.
assessing life
Part five of the questionnaire consisted of five author-devised items
subjects were
satisfaction, using a 4-point Likert-format scale. On a similar 5-point scale,
interaction, job, and
asked to rate various of their spouse's activities. Areas included child
asked
relationship involvement. Participants with children still living at home were then
engaged in various activities.
to answer a series of questions regarding hours spent
Part six of the packet consisted of the 10-item Rosenberg Self Concept Scale
(Rosenberg, 1965), which was used to measure self-esteem. Subjects were asked to
indicate on a 4-point Likert scale how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements
assessing participants' perceptions of their self worth and competence.
The next part of the questionnaire, an author-devised survey, consisted of 40
items assessing the subject's perception of their child's esteem and activities, spouse
asked the subjects to describe their
esteem, and overall lifestyle. The first 14 questions
child's personality using a 4-point Likert-format scale. The next 13 items asked the
participants to rate their reasons for encouraging their children to participate in structured
and
activities. The final 13 items asked the participants to rate their spouse's personality
Likert-format scale.
esteem, as well as overall family functioning using a 4-point
The final portion of the questionnaire consisted of Ferguson's Brief Locus of
Control Scale (Ferguson, 1993). This scale consists of ten forced-choice items excerpted
from Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966).
Results
Directionally adjusted items were totaled to create summary scores for self esteem
high levels of external
and locus of control. High scores on the Ferguson scale indicate
locus of control.
6
Independent samples t-tests were performed in order to assess differences
control, and life
between husbands and wives on measures of self esteem, locus of
respondents on
satisfaction. No significant differences emerged between male and female
control, satisfaction with weight, quality of sex life,
measures of elf esteem, locus of
sleep,- or financial wellbeing.
Independent samples t-tests revealed significant differences between husbands
with rearing children.
and wives on measures assessing perceived sacrifices associated
(t=2.43,
Husbands were more likely to complain that they had sacrificed time for exercise
wives'
df=59, p< .05). Males apparent greater interest in sports was consistent with
time away from family in order to
greater tendency to perceive their spouses as taking
that wives were
view sports(t=4.49, df'58, p< .05). Independent samples t-tests showed
sacrifices as a result
significantly more likely than husbands to report having made career
p< .05).
of having children (t =2.40,
Table 1
result of raising
Percentages of husbands and wives who report sacrificing exercise as a
children.
70%
Males:
55%
Females:
Table 2
raising
Percentages of husbands and wives who report sacrificing careers as a result of
children.
10%
Males:
29%
Females:
Male and female participants were analyzed separately Correlational analyses
revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between husbands' self esteem
p<.001, n=63). Similarly, wives' self
scores and their locus of control scores (r= -.46,
with their locus of control scores
esteem scores were significantly negatively correlated
(r= -.41, p<.001, n=69)
Table 1
Self esteem scores for all participants
Mean
s.d.
15.45
51
76.71
Males:
65
15.59
74.02
Females:
Table 2
Locus of Control scores for all participants
n
s.d.
Mean
49
2.24
14.31
Males:
59
2.11
14.54
Females:
Discussion
locus of control and self esteem
The failure to find expected gender differences in
and DeMarco (2001) research demonstrating increasing
was consistent with the Thorton
wives and husbands reported
egalitarianism in the U.S. Similarly, contrary to expectation,
lives. These findings suggest
similar satisfaction regarding their weight, sleep, and sex
between today's fathers and mothers.
that many gender differences may be evaporating
responsibilities, previously observed
As parents increasingly share earning and child care
with body image, and
differences in locus of control, self esteem, dissatisfaction
ephemeral.
dissatisfaction with sex life may be proving to have been
traditionally linked
The few gender differences that did emerge reflect areas
husbands in this sample of
differentially to the sexes: sports and career emphasis. The
They were also
adults were more likely to devote considerable time to spectator sports.
fatherhood had compelled them to sacrifice time for their own
more likely to feel that
that viewing sporting events
exercise. It is interesting to speculate about the possibility
expectations about how much exercise they want or need. These
may contribute to men's
personal sacrifice. Another
heightened expectations may translate to greater feelings of
is not redirected to
issue worth considering is why time devoted to spectator sports
exercise sacrifice because they
personal exercise. It is also possible that wives report less
responsibilities as providing opportunities for them to
may perceive their child care
children may be one way of
exercise. Involving fathers in exercise activities with their
reducing this perceived sacrifice.
likely to report that they had
The wives in this sample were significantly more
This is consistent with other
made career sacrifices as a result of becoming mothers.
prefer to stay home for a period
studies that have shown that women are more likely to
emphasis on nurturing
following the birth of children, because they may place greater
stop working, mothers
than on career. Where it is economically possible for one parent to
home. The apparent adverse professional impact of
are more likely to be the one to stay
mothers in this sample.
these decisions is suggested by the responses of the
locus of control and self-
A significant negative relationship was found between
several ways to account for this observed
esteem among married parents. There are
level of self-esteem. Those
relationship. It may be that locus of control contributes to
they take greater
with an internal locus of control may succeed more because
learn from experience.
responsibility for outcomes, thereby improving their ability to
Alternatively, self esteem
Over time, this might be expected to elevate their self esteem.
who perceive themselves as more competent and
may shape locus of control. Those
be more likely to
worthy, and who therefore score higher on tests of self esteem, may
of their lives. Another possibility is
accept responsibility for the reinforcement outcomes
Higher life success may
that personal success mediates responses on both measures.
it is self
increase the likelihood of one's adopting an internal locus of control (because
it is
flattering), whereas low life success may foster defensive externalization (because
self protective).
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