Voice as a mediator of mothers’ and daughters’ feminist attitudes and psychological outcomes: An application of silencing the self theory and social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the associations between mothers’ and their young adult daughters’ feminist attitudes, voice (i.e., their ability to speak their mind in close relationships), and psychological outcomes. Results from 169 mother-daughter dyads indicated significant direct and indirect actor effects, including associations between mothers’ and daughters’ own feminist attitudes and their own voice, and between daughters’ own feminist attitudes and their own psychological outcomes through their own voice. There were also significant direct and indirect partner effects, including the association between mothers’ feminist attitudes and daughters’ voice, and between daughters’ voice and mothers’ psychological well-being. These results highlight the psychological benefits of mothers and daughters having stronger feminist attitudes and being able to assert their voice in their close relationships.

KEYWORDS:

• Mothers
• daughters
• feminism
• voice
• psychological outcomes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Analisa Arroyo (PhD, University of Arizona) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. At the intersection of interpersonal and health communication, her research explores how communication in close relationships is associated with individuals' physical and mental well-being.

Alesia Woszidlo (Ph.D., University of Arizona) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. She is an interpersonal communication scholar whose research examines the associations among family of origin experiences, mental health issues, communication processes, and relationship quality among family members.

Anastacia Janovec (M.A., University of Georgia) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. As an interpersonal communication scholar, her research examines the associations among disclosure processes, mental health issues, family communication environments, and bullying experiences for bullying victims.