The Effects of Parental Self Disclosure and Connection on Relationship Satisfaction, Social Initiative and Self Esteem.

Introduction As children approach adolescence they will face the difficult challenges of identity development and the formation of interpersonal relationships. Success in meeting these challenges will depend in part on their self-esteem and social competencies. Empirical evidence suggests that children with low self-esteem are more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety, academic performance, delinquency, and other problems which negatively impact interpersonal and identity development. Similarly, deficits in social competencies in children have been related to illegal drug use, academic performance, depression, and other psychological and social problems.

Introduction II As primary socializers of children, fathers and mothers are most influential in the formation of a child’s identity and development of interpersonal relationship skills. Within the parent-child relationship children have their first opportunities and experiences relative to their identity and social development. Positive experiences within healthy and functional parent-child relationships prepare children for the eventual broadening of their interpersonal relationships and self concept development.

Parenting Factors Impacting Child Development Connection. The child’s sense of a positive, consistent, and stable interpersonal bond between himself and his parent that is based on the parent’s behaviors towards him. (social & confidence) Parental Self-Disclosure. Parent’s communications about themselves to their children that are not generally known and are not available to the children. (unknown) Relationship Satisfaction. In this study it refers to the child’s overall rating of how satisfied they are in their relationship with their parent. (social skills)

Child Outcome Measures Self-Esteem. The child’s global evaluative sense of self. This variable is often referred to as self-acceptance, self-worth, or self-image in the literature. Social Initiative. The extend to which the child seeks out relationships or social interaction with other individuals including peers and adults.

Hypotheses: 1. Mothers would self-disclosing more than fathers. 2. Mothers would self-disclose more to daughters while fathers would self-disclose more to their sons. 3.Parental self-disclosure and parental connection would have a positive and significant relationship. 4.Parental self-disclosure would have a positive effect on relationship satisfaction, child self-esteem, and child social initiative. 5. Parental self-disclosure would have an indirect and positive effect on child self-esteem and child social initiative by way of relationship satisfaction. 6. Parental connection would have a positive effect on relationship satisfaction, child self-esteem, and child social initiative. 7. Parental connection would have an indirect and positive effect on child self-esteem and child social initiative by way of relationship satisfaction 8. Parent-child relationship satisfaction would have a positive and direct effect on child self-esteem and social initiative.

Demographics

Conclusions Mother’s disclose more Father disclosure is predictive Absence of literature on parental- disclosure Connection with father influences self- esteem and social initiative. Connection with mother only impacts self-esteem.