Differences in girls' perceived paternal relationships and their self-esteem

Few studies have concentrated on the father-children relationship. Of those that have, only a small number have dealt solely with the father-daughter relationship (Biller, 1974; Musser & Fleck, 1983; Walters & Stinnett, 1971). Studies on the relationship of Black fathers and their daughters are severely lacking (McAdoo, 1981; Shulz, 1949; Staples, 1970). Those who have studied Black fathers and their families have found differences in the way Black and White fathers interact with their daught e rs (Bartz & Levine, 1978; Cazenave, 1979; Klonsky, 19 82; McAdoo, 1979; McAdoo, 1981; Reid, 1985). This study was designed to examine the difference in Black and White girls' perceptions of their relationship with their fathers. Since previous studies have indicated that there is a significant correlation of self-esteem with paternal acceptance (Fisher & Biller, 1973) and paternal control (Musser & Fleck, 1983), this study was also designed to determine if the effect of the father-daughter relationship on the self-esteem of Black and White girls is different. Subjects were 58 high school girls who lived with both parents. Sixteen items from the Children's Report of Parental Behavior Inventory (Schaefer, 1985) were used to measure the daughters' perception of their relationships with their fathers. Perceived paternal acceptance was assessed by combining scores from the nurturance, involvement and rejection subscale, while perceived paternal control was assessed by the control subscale. Self-esteem scores were derived from the subjects responses to the Coppersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (1967). Each subject was given a questionnaire containing demography items, questions about time spent with father, and the two scales. The results of the study indicated strong positive correlations with self-esteem and paternal acceptance. However, the results did not indicate a correlation between self-esteem and paternal control. Although there was no significant racial difference in the perceived parental acceptance, amount of time involvement, amount of nurturance or amount of control fathers give, the results did indicate that Black fathers were perceived as less rejecting. The self-esteem of the Black girls in this study was significantly higher than White girls. Perhaps feeling less paternal rejection is, in part, the basis for Black girl's higher self-esteem.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Hinton, Ivora Dean

Contributors dc:contributor

• Reid, Pamela T.
• Green, Edward J.; Leubecker, Amye Richelle Warren
• College of Arts and Sciences

• African American families
• Fathers and daughters
• Self-esteem in children

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Identifier

LB2369.2 .H55 1987

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1629