Fingerman Karen L, Chen Pei-Chun, Hay Elizabeth, Cichy Kelly E, Lefkowitz Eva S
Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 May;61(3):P152-60. doi: 10.1093/geronb/61.3.p152.
Theory suggests that aging parents and their adult children experience ambivalence (conflicting emotions) as a result of unclear norms governing the tie between them. This study investigated personality differences and relationship context differences in ambivalence, as well as the reactions of parents and offspring to each other. As part of the Adult Family Study, 474 individuals from 158 family triads consisting of a mother, father, and son or daughter aged 22 to 49 years completed telephone interviews, in-person interviews, and questionnaires. Multilevel models revealed that poor parental health and neuroticism in parents and offspring were associated with greater ambivalence. Surprisingly, investment in competing roles was associated with less ambivalence. Parents also experienced greater ambivalence when offspring scored higher on neuroticism, rated the parent as less important, or were less invested in their own spousal role. Parents' characteristics were not associated with offspring's ambivalence. Parents appear to react to their children's personality and achievements even after children are grown.
理论表明，由于规范亲子关系的准则不明确，年迈的父母和他们已成年的子女会体验到矛盾情绪（相互冲突的情感）。本研究调查了矛盾情绪中的人格差异和关系背景差异，以及父母与子女对彼此的反应。作为成人家庭研究的一部分，来自158个由母亲、父亲以及年龄在22岁至49岁之间的儿子或女儿组成的家庭三元组的474名个体完成了电话访谈、面对面访谈和问卷调查。多层次模型显示，父母和子女的健康状况不佳以及神经质与更大的矛盾情绪相关。令人惊讶的是，在相互竞争的角色上投入与矛盾情绪较少相关。当子女的神经质得分较高、将父母评价为不太重要或者在自己的配偶角色上投入较少时，父母也会体验到更大的矛盾情绪。父母的特征与子女的矛盾情绪无关。即使在子女成年后，父母似乎仍会对子女的性格和成就做出反应。
