Abstract
Longitudinal data from the British National Child Development Study were used to examine the relationship between parental background in childhood and left-right beliefs and political cynicism-trust in adulthood (age 33). Parental backgrounds were separated into those relating to the structure (birth, step, single) and those relating to the socio-economic context (severe socio-economic disadvantage, experience of public care) of the family. Growing up with a widowed or a single parent had no effect in later political attitudes, and neither the structure nor the context of the parental background were related to left-right beliefs in men. An experience of public care predicted political cynicism in those who grew up in stepfamilies, and an experience of socio-economic disadvantage predicted left-wing beliefs in women.
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Flouri, E. Parental Background and Political Attitudes in British Adults. Journal of Family and Economic Issues 25, 245–254 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JEEI.0000023640.19330.70
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JEEI.0000023640.19330.70