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Gender and Generation: The Relative Influence of Intimacy and Individuation With Mother and With Father for Spousal Intimacy and Individuation Among Dual-Earner Husbands and Wives

The University of Montana-Western, j_gilliard{at}umwestern.edu

Priscilla W. Blanton

University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Sharon J. Bartley

University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Drawing on anchor points from earlier scholarly work contained in family therapy perspectives, this study examined intimacy and individuation among husbands and wives from gender-sensitive and intergenerational perspectives. Scales assessing personal authority in the family system were utilized to ascertain husbands and wives' perceptions of intimacy and individuation with mother, with father, and with their spouse. The relative influence of intimacy and individuation with mother and father for spousal intimacy and individuation was examined. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that intimacy and individuation with mother predicted spousal individuation and that individuation with father predicted spousal intimacy. Clinical implications of these results for narrative approaches to therapy are discussed.

Key Words: dual-earner • gender • intimacy and individuation • spousal intimacy

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The Family Journal, Vol. 15, No. 4, 350-358 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1066480707304946


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gilliard, J. L. Articles by Bartley, S. J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?