Meaningfulness as a predictor of intergenerational commitment

13 | P a g e SUMMARY In South Africa’s rapidly changing social and cultural context, where family dynamics and relationships are changing just as quickly, it is essential to discover which factors contribute to successful relationships that persist over time. Previous research has utilised the Investment Model Scale (Rusbult, 1980) in order to understand commitment processes and the constructs satisfaction, quality of alternatives and investment have been identified as key determinants of commitment in romantic contexts. In the present study however I investigated the primary research question, “How can commitment be measured in the context of family relationships?” Data collection took place through the Family Commitment Scale (which was adapted from the Investment Model Scale) and a new meaningfulness scale was added in an attempt to explore whether meaningfulness would be a better predictor of family commitment than satisfaction, quality of alternatives and investment. The statistical analyses were conducted with the purpose of examining the research question and hypotheses. The findings of the present study contribute to commitment literature by underlining the utility of the Invest Model Scale in nonromantic contexts and providing an instrument which can reliably measure family commitment. Meaningfulness is also highlighted as a motivational feature behind family commitment processes.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Human-Vogel, Salome

• Family commitment
• Satisfaction
• Quality of alternatives
• Investment
• Meaningfulness
• Young adulthood
• Investment Model Scale
• Family Commitment Scale
• Meaning Making Model
• Cross sectional correlational study
• UCTD

Statement dc:rights

• © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

E14/4/191/gm

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/40366