Is there evidence of differential importance of positive relationships with mothers versus fathers?
Unfortunately, in both the HBSC and NLSCY data sets, only one question assessed the differential importance of relationships to mothers versus fathers in predicting child adjustment. Path analyses of the HBSC data suggest, however, that children who feel more comfortable discussing problems with their mothers also feel more comfortable discussing problems with their siblings. Ability to confide in fathers was an important predictor of a wide range of outcomes: better quality peer relations, ease in confiding in siblings, higher self-esteem, fewer internalizing problems and greater school identification. Path analyses of the NLSCY data did not show that discussing problems with mothers predicted child adjustment. Discussing problems with fathers only predicted talking to other adults about problems. These differences between data sets are not surprising given limitations in the measure. As noted previously, in the HBSC sample, children indicated, on a 5-point scale, how easy it was to c
