IMPACT OF PARENTS' MARITAL QUALITY ON YOUNG ADULTS' PERCEPTION ABOUT OPPOSITE GENDER AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MARRIAGE
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between parent's marital quality, young adults' perception of the opposite gender, and attitudes towards marriage. It also explores the moderating role of parent's marital quality on the relationship between young adults' perception of the opposite gender and attitudes towards marriage. A sample of 400 adults, including 200 males and 200 females aged 18 to 25 years, was gathered from various universities in Lahore. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect data, and correlational methods and purposive sampling were employed. The study design was cross-sectional, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 25). Several scales were utilized in the study. The Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC) was used to assess the frequency, intensity, resolution, content, perceived threat, coping efficacy, self-blame, triangulation, and stability of interparental conflict. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) was utilized to measure hostile sexism and benevolent sexism. The Marital Attitude Scale (MAS) was employed to gauge individuals' attitudes and opinions towards heterosexual marriage. The findings of the study reveal that parent's marital quality moderates the relationship between young adults' perception of the opposite gender and attitudes towards marriage, although the effect size is small (R2 change of 0.006). The results also demonstrate a significant negative correlation between variables, indicating that high parent's marital quality is associated with decreased young adult perception and attitude towards marriage, while high young adult perception of the opposite gender and attitude towards marriage are linked to low parental marital quality.
