Much Ado about Money: Parent–Child Perceptions of Financial Disclosure

Abstract

As parent–child financial communication influences children's well-being, it is important to learn what financial information children receive. Framed by Communication Privacy Management theory, this study explored 27 parent–child dyads' perceptions of financial disclosure, finding parents and children predominately reported similar financial information and disclosure rules. Dyads generally perceived parents were open about consumer and financial socialization topics and less likely to disclose personal matters. Dyads reported parents disclosed when benefits outweighed risks and concealed when information was costly. This study suggests confidants do not only co-own information, but also have an awareness of privacy rules that shape disclosure, a possible CPM extension.

Keywords:

• Communication Privacy Management
• Dyadic Disclosure
• Finances
• Parents and children
• Socialization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lynsey Kluever Romo

Lynsey Kluever Romo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University.