A Study on How a Mother Shapes a Child's Image of His or Her Father:

Based on a Comparison to Direct Communication in Families

Abstract

　　The aim of this study was to examine how a mother's description of a child's father affects the adolescent's image of his or her father, with a focus on gender differences. This study introduced the theory of pragmatics of human communication and it looked at aspects of both message content and communication management.

　　Three hundred and one college students (151 females, 150 males) were surveyed. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the stepwise method, with as child's image of his or her father as the dependent variable. Results indicated that “Direct communication between a father and a child” and “A mother's positive description of the child’s father” promoted an adolescent's “Favorable image of one’s father.” However, “Direct communication between a mother and child” and “Dissatisfaction with one's father” worsened female adolescents' image of their fathers. Therefore, there are gender differences in the effect that a mother's description of a child's father has on the adolescent's view of his or her father. For female adolescents in particular, communication with one's mother promoted mother-child attachment, possibly worsening the adolescent's image of her father. “An image of one's father as capable” was not related to direct communication between the father and child but was related to several factors associated with how the mother described the child's father. Based on these results, the way in which a mother describes a child's father may shape the adolescent's image of his or her father.