***************************************************k******************* Toxic Familial Effects of Parental Hostility

In research efforts to account for the variance in parent-child interactions, two variables have been citel repeatedly for their explanatory cogency--nurturance and authority. This study was conducted to examine the relation of parents' Hostility (Ho) scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory based Cook and Madly Hostility Scale to older adolescents' phenomenological assessments of their parents' nurturance and authority and the relation of scores to the adolescents' self-esteem. College students (N=85) completed six questionnaires: a global self-esteem scale, a mother's nurturance scale, a father's nurturance scale, a mother's authority questionnaire, a father's authority questionnaire, and a demographic information sheet. Mothers and fathers of the students completed the Hostility Scale. Several inverse relationships 'fere found between Ho scores and adolescent self-esteem and adolescent perception of their parental nurturance and authority. The magnitude of these effects was consistently greater for fathers' Ho than for mothers' Ho, adding support to the hypothesis that the behavioral and emotional c'msequences of Ho are different for men and women. (NB) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ***************************************************k******************* Toxic Familial Effects of Parental Hostility John R. Burl and Ann M. Cooper University of St. Thomas -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS LI a. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Eihicahonai ReataerCh and Imptovement MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY r-4 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Lynda M. Richtsmeier ziohi) /7, g&o. Pout document has bean reproduced t received from the person ot Organization University of North Carolina originating it r Minor changes have been mad* to improve reptoductiOn quelitV Karen K. Komar TO THE EDUCATI(3NAL RESCWRCES CfD ment do not neCeediatily represent odic* INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Poi/1111W rieW W W5MIWIS Mated 1h4(10,Cy OERJpoatonorpolicy VIZ University of Arizona 71Z Abstract: The Cook and Medley (1954) hostility (Ho) Scale was used to investi= gate the reLation of mothers' and fathers' Ho to their adolescents' assPssments of their parentaZ nurturance and authority. The relation of Ho to adolescent self-esteen was also investigated. Several inverse relationships between Ho and these variables were found. Furthermore, the magnitude of these effects were consistently greater for fathers' Ho than for mothers' Ho, thus providing further evidenoe that the behavioral and emotionaZ consequences of Ho are different for men and women. Studies employing the MMPI-based Cook and Medley (1954) Hostility (Ho) Scale have implicated hostility in cardiovascular health problems in men (e.g., Barefoot, Dahlstrom, & Williams, 1983; Shekelle, Gale, Ostfeld, & Paul, 1983; Williams, Haney, Lee, Kong, Blumenthal, & Whalen, 1980) as well as in general mortality rates among men (e.g., Barefoot et al., 1983; Barefoot, Pe\ Dodge, Peterson, Dahlstrom, & Williams, 1989; Shekelle et al., 1983). FurC\J thermore, high Ho men (when compared to low Ho men) have been found to display CZ) greater levels of anger, irritation, and cardiovascualr arousal when placed in cm? circumstances involving interpersonal confrontation (e.g., Hardy & Smith, 1988; Correspndence concerning this article should be sent to Dr. John R. Buri, Department of Psychology, Mail #4026, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 55105. 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Toxic Parental Hostility