Parental Identity and Its Relation to Parenting and Psychological Functioning in Middle Age
Fadjukoff, P., Pulkkinen, L., Lyyra, A.-L., & Kokko, K. (2016). Parental Identity and Its Relation to Parenting and Psychological Functioning in Middle Age. Parenting: Science and Practice, 16(2), 87-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295192.2016.1134989
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Parenting: Science and PracticeDate
2016Discipline
PsykologiaGerontologia ja kansanterveysGerontologian tutkimuskeskusHyvinvoinnin tutkimuksen yhteisöPsychologyGerontology and Public HealthGerontology Research CenterSchool of WellbeingCopyright
© Päivi Fadjukoff, Lea Pulkkinen, Anna-Liisa Lyyra, and Katja Kokko. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-No
Derivatives License.
Objective. This article focuses on identity as a parent in relation to parenting and psychological
functioning in middle age. Design. Drawn from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of
Personality and Social Development, 162 participants (53% females) with children (age 36), represented
the Finnish age-cohort born in 1959. Parental identity was assessed at ages 36, 42,
and 50. Results. In both women and men, parental identity achievement increased from age
36 to 42 and remained stable to 50. The level of parental identity achievement was higher in
women than in men. Achievement was typical for women and foreclosure for men. Participants’
education, occupational status, and number of offspring were not related to parental identity status.
As expected, parental identity achievement was associated with authoritative (indicated by
higher nurturance and parental knowledge about the child’s activities) parenting style. No significant
associations emerged between parental identity foreclosure and restrictiveness as an
indicator of authoritarian parenting style. The diffused men outscored others in parental stress.
Achieved parental identity was related to generativity in both genders and to higher psychological
and social well-being in men. Conclusions. At present, many parenting programs are
targeted to young parents. This study highlighted the importance of a later parenting phase
at around age 40, when for many, the children are approaching puberty. Therefore, parenting
programs and support should also be designed for middle-aged parents. Specifically men may
need additional support for their active consideration and engagement in the fathering role.
...
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Psychology PressISSN Search the Publication Forum
1529-5192Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/25566018
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