Mutual Influences Among American Parents for Their Values Placed on Children's Conformity in the 1970s and 1980s

Abstract

Relative effects of both spouses' educational levels on the value parents place on children's conformity were examined. Eight General Social Survey samples, covering the 1970s and 1980s, containing information on 3,005 mothers, 2,634 fathers, and their spouses were analyzed simultaneously. Application of “diagonal reference models” showed symmetric influence. Although own educational level had the larger effect on conformity, the effect of spouse's educational level, particularly the father's, was substantive. Among mothers, interdependence was moderated by mother's employment, and marital happiness. Education of mothers who are the sole breadwinners had a smaller effect on own child-rearing values, than education of mothers who are not the sole breadwinners. In addition, education of happily married mothers had a smaller effect on own child-rearing values, than education of unhappily married mothers.