Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica (Jan 2006)
Psychological determinants of the intention to constitute a family / Determinantes psicológicos da intenção de constituir família
Abstract
Studies have focused predominantly on family organizations that have been previously constituted. Trying to bring the analysis to a previous step, this study analyzed the intention to constitute a family, studying in which extension this intention is explained by psychological variables (basic human values, the independent and interdependent self-construals, and the attitudes toward stable affective relationships). 658 single undergraduate students participated in this study, of which 50.6% were women with a mean age of 20 years. Correlations and regressions analysis were performed. As hypothesized, the importance attributed to social values and attitudes toward stable affective relationships were correlated with the intention of constituting a family. However, neither independent nor interdependent self-construals presented significant correlations. Specifically, three values (affectivity, religiosity and personal stability) appear to be predictors of this intention. The implications of these findings are discussed, and future researches on this thematic are suggested.
