The Study on Mother-Daughter Differentiation, Solidarity and Relationship Satisfaction between Mother-in-Law and Son-in-Law: A Comparative Study on Mother-in-Law and Son-in-Law

Abstract

This study compares how mother-daughter differentiation influences solidarity and relationship satisfaction between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. The subjects of this study were 167 mothers-in-law (mean age, 59.6 years) paired with their sons-in-law (mean age, 36.9 years). Participants were given quantitative survey questionnaires on their relationships. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted for the social and demographic characteristics of mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. Ordinary least square multiple regression analyses were also conducted to examine the level of mother-daughter differentiation, solidarity, and relationship satisfaction between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. The results show that a higher age of the mothers-in-law results in lower relationship satisfaction between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. Next, an increase the level of mother-daughter differentiation (which means more balance between intimacy and detachability) results in a higher overall solidarity, affectual solidarity, giving functional solidarity, and consensual solidarity between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the receiving functional solidarity and normative solidarity between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. Finally, the results show that a higher level of mother-daughter differentiation produces a higher relationship satisfaction between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. The findings could provide a better understanding of inter-generational relationships in Korean family dynamics. The results also have implications for providing counseling for the development of healthy relationships between mothers-in-law and sons-in-law. Keywords: mother and daughter differentiation, solidarity, relationship satisfaction