Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Golden-Thompson, Amber A.
Author's Email Address	goldenlineresearch@yahoo.com
URN	etd-04102006-174459
Title	The Relationship Between Familial And Extrafamilial Voice And Support For Voice And Identity Exploration In African American Emerging Adults
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Family and Child Sciences, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Ann K. Mullis Committee Chair Mary W. Hicks Committee Member Ronald Mullis Committee Member Stephen A. Rollin Committee Member
Keywords	Family Relations Social Relations Identity True Self-Behavior Support
Date of Defense	2006-03-24
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The purposes of the study were to a) examine the relationship between level of voice (LOV) and support for voice (SFV) and ideological identity exploration, and b) to expand the theoretical and empirical discussion regarding identity development and socialization forces in African American emerging adults. The study built on the empirical work of Grotevant and Cooper (1985), that established a relationship between ideological exploration, the expression of one’s thoughts and opinions to parents, and the corresponding levels of support received from each parent. In keeping with Grotevant and Cooper’s study, ideological identity exploration was conceptualized in the current study using Marcia’s (1966) identity status model. The ability to be true to oneself, conceptualized and measured as Level of Voice (LOV) or the ability to express one’s thoughts and opinions, was based on Harter’s empirical work on authentic self-behavior. Support, conceptualized and measured as the perception of respect and interest in what one has to say or support for voice (SFV), was also drawn from this body of literature. Examining ideological identity and various socialization forces in African Americans was an expansion on the wider body of identity literature that predominantly focuses on racial/ethnic identity in this population. The conceptualization of familial socialization forces was expanded to include mother (figures), father (figures), adult relatives, as well as fictive kin. Furthermore, the inclusion of extrafamilial socialization forces expanded the broader body of identity literature. The relationships of peers and instructors/advisors included in this investigation were selected based on the theoretical writings of Erikson (1968). The final sample included 373 participants (67.3% female and 32.7% male) of whom 92.4% were between the ages of 18 and 23. Gender differences emerged relative to the collective influence of LOV and SFV on exploration, as well as to the influence of the various relational contexts under investigation. Males with higher levels of exploration had higher LOV with father (figures) and lower LOV with instructors/advisors. Females with higher exploration levels indicated increased LOV with fictive kin but lower LOV with adult relatives when controlling for the effects of familial SFV.
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