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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
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Understandings of children's influence in parent—child relationships: A Q-methodological study

Jan De Mol

Ghent University, Jan.Demol{at}UGent.be

Ann Buysse

Ghent University

Bidirectional models of interpersonal influence in parent—child relationships underscore the influence of children on their parents. Following a social constructionist perspective, the present study uses Q methodology to explore meanings and beliefs concerning children's influence among members of the Belgian-Flemish culture. Children and adults each performed the Q-sorting tasks that were analysed separately. Q-factor analysis of the children-sorts produced five factors and six factors for the adults. These analyses revealed that a central understanding of children's influence for children and adults is the recognition of the full person and partnership of the child in the relationship. Children's responses focus on the responsiveness of the parents and stress that parents learn from them. Adults' responses emphasize the massiveness of children's influence on the parents' personal development.

Key Words: agency • bidirectionality • influence • parent—child relationships • Q methodology • social constructionism

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 25, No. 2, 359-379 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407507087963
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