Why Family Members St(r)ay: Marginalized Family Members’ Commitment to Family

ABSTRACT

Societal norms of commitment to family make gaining and maintaining family distance challenging. This study utilizes the investment model (Rusbult, 1980, 1983) to understand family commitment in the context of family member marginalization. A survey of 285 marginalized family members revealed family member marginalization is associated with lower family satisfaction and investment and higher availability of alternative kin relationships. The negative association between perceptions of family member marginalization and family commitment was mediated by family satisfaction and investment. Financial dependence on family, family-blame, self-blame, and intentionality of marginalization moderated the association between family member marginalization and (a) satisfaction and (b) investment. Implications for the investment model and practical implications for supporting marginalized members are discussed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The term “black sheep” is used in this study’s recruitment materials as it is the colloquial phrase known in the U.S. for family member marginalization. We recognize the term links blackness with undesirability and therefore use the conceptual label of “family member marginalization” where possible.

2. Scale items for investment were (1) How often do you see your family?, (2) How often do you speak to your family members on the phone?, (3) How often do you attend family events?

3. Scale items for quality of alternative kin were (1) I have friends who fulfill the role of family for me, (2) I have friends I can count on like family, (3) I have friends I consider “like a sister” or “like a brother,” (4) I have friends who are like siblings to me, (5) I have a strong support network outside of my family.

4. Scale items for financial dependence were (1) Do you depend on your family for financial assistance?, (2) Do you depend on your family for housing?

5. Scale items for family blame were (1) My family is the reason we have a strained relationship, (2) My family marginalizes me because they are close minded, (3) My family marginalizes me because they are cruel.

6. Scale items for self-blame were (1) I can trace the way my family treats me to a specific choice I made or action I took, (2) I made a choice that resulted in my family treating me differently, (3) I have done something to make my family feel ashamed of me.

7. Scale items for intentionality were (1) My family has made an argument for why they do not want to be around me, (2) My parents exclude me on purpose, (3) It’s clear my family would be happier without me, (4) My family makes me feel different on purpose, (5) My family purposely ignores me, (6) I know exactly why I am treated differently than the rest of my family.