Trust and Satisfaction in Adult Child–Mother (And Other) Relationships

Abstract

We examined relationships between adult children and their mothers from a relational perspective. We investigated positive regard for mother relationships versus other dyadic relationships and the role that trust plays in fostering satisfaction in these relationships. In Study 1, undergraduates completed surveys about their relationships with their mothers. Trust was the strongest predictor of satisfaction in participants’ relationships with their moms. In Study 2, adults older than 25 completed questions about their satisfaction with their relationships with their mothers. Participants were more satisfied with and more trusting of their mothers than of anyone other than their best friends. Trust was again the most important predictor of satisfaction in relationships with mothers (as well as in several other relationships).

Notes

*p < .05. **p < .01.

**p < .01. ***p < .001.

**p < .01.

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Note. Results for Satisfaction with mother relationships are slightly different in these analyses than in the prior analyses of satisfaction because the variable addressing mother's discipline level during childhood was excluded. Doing so made the analyses parallel across all six relationships.

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