Role relations in the family: characterization of beliefs of boys and girls in the period of matrimonial choice

Introduction. The family as a resource for psychological well-being influences the formation of personal beliefs about interpersonal and role-based family relationships. The reflected experience of relationships in the family of origin and subjective models of interaction with the world are reflected in the beliefs of boys and girls about the family structure. Beliefs about role relationships in the family influence the matrimonial behaviour of the individual, determining the choice of a strategy of actions based on the hierarchy of family values.

Purpose. Identification and description of the features of the content of the individual’s beliefs about role relationships in the family during the period of matrimonial choice.

Materials and methods. The study involved 135 people (55 boys and 80 girls, aged 17-21 years), students from Adygea State Pedagogical University, who are in the matrimonial choice period. The Role Expectations and Claims in Marriage (RESM) test by A. N. Volkova and the Distribution of Roles in the Family methodology by Yu. E. Alyoshina, L. Ya. Gozman, E. M. Dubovskaya were applied. A comparative analysis of the severity of beliefs about the desired role behaviour of the future marriage partner in boys and girls was carried out.

Results. The specificity and gender differences in the severity of beliefs indicators about the distribution of roles in the family among modern students are shown, taking into account the gender factor. The importance of personal identification with a partner is reflected (girls have an average score of 6.9, boys 5.6 according to the RECM method) and the expected performance of the emotional-psychotherapeutic function by the family (average score 7.2 for girls and 6.6 for boys). The beliefs of students of both sexes about the structure of the family reflect the features of the egalitarian type of family, that is, the expectations of equal partnership in the family (the results obtained using the Distribution of Roles in the Family methodology showed no significant differences in the views of girls and boys).

Discussion and conclusion. The adequacy of the reality of ideas about the requirements for a partner, the subject of role behaviour, provides awareness of matrimonial choice, which is necessary for building a prosperous and constructive interaction in the family. In conclusion, the effectiveness of art therapy in psychological support programmes for the development of constructive ideas about the psychological determinants of a successful family among young people is emphasized.

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