Intergenerational Differences in Perceived Conflict among Families of Working and Non-working Women

Abstract

Intergenerational differences are the differences in the perception of the members of two generations co-residing together for years under one shelter. The study aimed to investigate the differences in the perceived conflict as reported by the members of the two generations co-residing viz. fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law comprising first generation and sons and daughters-in-law comprising second generation. A sample of 240 respondents (N=60 families) was selected comprising of fathers-in-law (30), mothers-in-law (30), sons (30) and daughters-in-law (30) drawn from the families where daughter-in-law was working, thus making a sample of 120 respondents from families with working daughter-in-law (n 1 =30 families). In the same manner, 120 respondents were drawn from families where daughter-in-law was non-working (n 2 = 30 families). All the four members were interviewed and dyads were analyzed to investigate intergenerational differences. Results showed that all the members of 'non-working' daughter-in-law families reported more conflict in their families in comparison to those from 'working' daughter-in-law families.