Attributions and Attitudes of Mothers and Fathers in Kenya

SYNOPSIS

Objective. The present study examined differences and similarities between Kenyan mothers and fathers in attributions regarding successes and failures in caregiving situations and progressive versus authoritarian attitudes. Design. Interviews were conducted with mothers and fathers in 100 2-parent families in Kenya. Results. Mothers were more likely to make attributions regarding adult-controlled failure in caregiving situations than were fathers, but mothers and fathers did not differ on attributions regarding uncontrollable success, child-controlled failure, or authoritarian or progressive attitudes. Moderate to large correlations between mothers and fathers were found in terms of attributions regarding uncontrollable success, authoritarian attitudes, and modernity of attitudes. Conclusions. Kenyan mothers and fathers hold similar attributions for success and failures in caregiving situations as well as parenting attitudes.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant RO1-HD054805.