Committee Chair

Reid, Pamela T.

Committee Member

Green, Edward J.; Leubecker, Amye Richelle Warren

Department

Dept. of Psychology

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

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.

Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to the members of my thesis committee, Pamela T. Reid, Amye Warren-Leubecker, and Edward J. Green, for their support. I would like to especially thank Dr. Reid for the encouragement I needed to complete this project. I would like to also thank Marsha Provost who was very kind. In addition, I would like to thank Marjorie Ogle, Dorothy Stone, and Judy Reich and their students at Chattanooga Central High . I would to thank Lee McKee and his students at Brainard High, and Booker Scruggs and the members of Upward Bound. I would like to thank Emma Hughes and the members of Jack and Jill, and Eulah Price and the members of Career Beginnings. I would like to extend by upmost appreciation to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hinton for their patience and understanding; my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Van Woodside for their support; and my aunt, Essie Brown for all of her assistance and sympathy. Finally, I would like to thank Carol Tate for her empathy, and Dr. Leubecker for help over and above that required as a committee member. In the words of Mrs. Tate, "without [their) support and advice I would have been unable to finish this project."

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-1987

Subject

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

Discipline

Child Psychology | Psychology

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

vi, 76 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

LB2369.2 .H55 1987

Rights

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

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

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