Adolescent Perceptions of Parental Power: Do Family Size and Ordinal Position of the Child Make a Difference?*

Abstract

The literature suggests that parent‐child interactions differ in relation to both birth order and family size. There are arguments in the literature concerning whether observed effects should be attributed to structural factors or to such demographic variables as SES and parental education. The present research attempts to deal with some of the theoretical questions and methodological problems encountered in determining mediators of birth order and parental interaction effects. Reports of parental involvement, or indices of such involvement, in 34 interaction areas were collected from 189 Iranian high school students from families of at least 2 children, and were analyzed using multiple regression procedures. In general, results showed birth order effects were mediated by size of family. Respondents from ‘small’ families (of 2–4 children) differed from those from larger families. In large families, first‐borns had the most paternal (or the least maternal) orientations. In small families, last‐boms had the most paternal (least maternal) orientations. Middle‐borns were not significantly different from the first‐boms in small or in large families. It is concluded that further cross‐cultural studies of differential parental interaction with different birth orders are needed before a theoretical framework can be offered to explain birth order effects.

Effect of Family Size and Type on Maternal Rejection of Children With ADHD

“…The present study may be expanded by using other dimensions of family structure, such as children’s birth order and the age difference between siblings, which also affect the parent-child relationship (Kalmijn & Dykstra, 2006; Tashakkori et al, 1990). Using mixed methods for study mother-daughter and mother-son relationships may expand and deepen knowledge about child gender differences in maternal rejection and its association with family type and size (Demmer et al, 2018; Lifford et al, 2008).…”

Ordem de nascimento e decisões de carreira: um diálogo entre a psicologia individual e as carreiras contemporâneas

“…Os filhos do meio, segundo a ordem psicológica de nascimento, são indivíduos que se percebem negligenciados ou desencorajados e, por essa razão, são frequentemente relacionados a sentimentos de baixa autoestima, frustração (WHITE et al, 1995;TASHAKKORI et al, 1990) e reduzida autoeficácia nas decisões de carreira (HERNDON, 2012). Segundo Cloninger (2004), a negligência parental contribui para um desenvolvimento desadaptado e para a percepção de que as exigências da vida são insuperavelmente difíceis.…”