Ambivalence in Mother-Adult Child Relations: A Dyadic Analysis

The concept of ambivalence represents an interactional process in which individuals evaluate social relations as simultaneously positive and negative. This study investigates ambivalence in interpersonal relations through an empirical analysis of relationships between aging mothers and their adult c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social psychology quarterly 2006-09, Vol.69 (3), p.235-252
Main Authors: Willson, Andrea E., Shuey, Kim M., Elder, Glen H., Wickrama, K. A. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult Children
Adults
Aging
Ambivalence
Attitude Measures
Behavior Standards
Biological and medical sciences
Children
Children & youth
Couple and family
Daughters
Dyadic relations
Dyadics
Dyads
Family
Family (Sociological Unit)
Family Relationship
Family Structure
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Helping Relationship
Income
Interactionism
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Relationship
Interpersonal relationships
Marital Status
Mother-Child relationships
Mothers
Older Adults
Parent Child Relations
Parent Child Relationship
Parent Role
Parents
Personal relationships
Physical Health
Proximity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Relatives
Resistance (Psychology)
Resource Materials
Social Organizations
Social psychology
Social relations
Social sciences
Social Structure
Sociology
Sons
Universities
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Summary:The concept of ambivalence represents an interactional process in which individuals evaluate social relations as simultaneously positive and negative. This study investigates ambivalence in interpersonal relations through an empirical analysis of relationships between aging mothers and their adult children from their joint perspectives. Multilevel models examine the influence of dependence on levels of ambivalence in relationship dyads as well as differences in levels of ambivalence between mothers and their adult children. Results suggest that ambivalence increases under conditions of potential dependence, rather than through the help that is more routinely exchanged among family members. Within the relationship, mothers experienced less ambivalence than their sons and daughters; overall findings demonstrate the importance of analyzing multiple perspectives in social relationships.
ISSN:0190-2725
1939-8999
DOI:10.1177/019027250606900302