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Sons and daughters of parents in a support organization

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Abstract

Earlier surveys of a parents' support organization revealed a 3:1 ratio of parents of sons to parents of daughters. Three possible explanations for this ratio were considered based on differential onset, behavioral differences, and marital status. A re-analysis of survey data indicated that the most reasonable explanation of the gender difference is the greater propensity for anti-social behavior on the part of sons, leading to increased parental needs for support and outside assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of California, 95616, Davis, CA

    Robert Sommer Ph.D.

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  1. Robert Sommer Ph.D.
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Additional information

I would like to thank Emily Burstein, Alison Carver, Captane Thompson, and Petri Trueba for their assistance. The study was supported by the Public Service Research and Dissemination Program of the University of California, Davis.

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Sommer, R. Sons and daughters of parents in a support organization. Psych Quart 58, 57–65 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064040

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064040

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