ERIC Number: EJ1009689
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Mar
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1050-8392
EISSN: N/A
The Counterintuitive Psychological Benefits of Intergenerational Discrepancies in Family Prioritization for Jamaican Adolescent-Parent Dyads
Ferguson, Gail M.
Journal of Research on Adolescence, v23 n1 p35-44 Mar 2013
The current study tests a prediction of Relational Discrepancy Theory (RDT; i.e., emotional distress will not accompany discrepancies in hierarchical relationships) for family obligations discrepancies among adolescent-parent dyads in Jamaica, a moderately collectivistic and hierarchical society. Ninety-five dyads reported psychological adjustment and discrepancies in family prioritization (i.e., value priority placed on family vs. other life domains). Results supported RDT and replicated recent work with Caribbean immigrants in Europe. Unlike findings in individualistic and egalitarian societies, discrepancies were not an emotional liability for Jamaican adolescents but were associated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, Jamaican parents benefitted psychologically when adolescents prioritized family highly but may have been unaware of the emotional risks to their teenagers of matching parental expectations. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Adolescents, Parent Child Relationship, Parents, Family Relationship, Congruence (Psychology), Emotional Adjustment, Depression (Psychology), Life Satisfaction, Psychological Patterns, Latin American Culture, Social Values, High School Students, Generational Differences, Self Esteem, Well Being, Theories, Foreign Countries, Likert Scales
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2429/WileyCDA/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Grade 10; Grade 11
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Jamaica
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; Self Perception Profile for Adolescents
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A