Features of the distribution of family roles in a young family with different levels of self- esteem among spouses

Tsvetkova Natalia Afanasyevna

With the help of psychodiagnostic methods "Role expectations and claims in marriage" by A.N. Volkova and "Determining the features of the distribution of roles in the family" by Yu.E. Aleshina, L.Ya. Gozman, E.M. Dubovskaya, on a sample of 30 married couples without children (the age of the spouses is from 21 to 35 years), the features of the distribution of family roles and the hierarchy of family values ​​depending on the level of self-esteem of the spouses were studied. It is shown that in such families, regardless of the ratio of the levels of self-esteem of spouses in a couple, both wives and husbands have an average level of role adequacy. This indicates a fairly high coincidence of premarital ideas about life in the family and the order in the distribution of family roles that is implemented in reality. In young families, wives, regardless of their level of self-esteem, expect to see their spouse as the breadwinner of the family. For wives with high self-esteem, external attractiveness is important, the significance of which decreases with a decrease in the level of self-esteem. A similar connection is observed in the sphere of social activity, psychotherapeutic and household activities. In the field of social activity, women have an increase in claims with an increase in the level of self-esteem. In the field of intimate relationships, the higher the self-esteem of a woman, the lower the value of this area for her. For husbands in young families, regardless of their level of self-esteem, the leading family value is their own external social activity (professional, social), which they consider as an important factor in the stability of marriage and family relations. Husbands with different self-esteem are ready to take on more responsibility for fulfilling almost all roles, except for emotional and psychotherapeutic ones.

Keywords:family role; role expectations; role claims; family values; role adequacy; young family.