Psychodemographic determinants of family values among undergraduate students in a South African University

Abstract

This study investigated the psychodemographic determinants of family values among undergraduate students in a South African University. Psychodemographic variables in this study include gender, age, emotional distance and family support. Data was collected using a family value validated questionnaire administered on a sample of 100 male and 100 female undergraduate students, giving a total of 200. All participants were randomly sampled. The validated questionnaire has four sections (demography, family value scale, family support, and emotional distance). Five hypotheses were stated based on gender, age, emotional distance, family support and interaction effect and anchored on a 4-Way ANOVA. The results showed that all the three way interactions were significant. Specifically, gender, age and emotional distance have interaction effects on family values (F(14, 1); 3.81; p<.01). Also, gender, age and family support have interaction effects on family values (F (14, 1); 3.31; p<01 ). Similarly, age, emotional distance and family support have significant interaction effects on family values (F (14, 1); 4.79; p<.01). The results also showed that all the two way interactions were not significant (i.e. gender * age; gender * emotional distance; gender * family support; age * emotional distance; age * family support; emotional distance * family support). Therefore, hypotheses one to four were not upheld. Only hypothesis five was upheld. Some of the results are particularly important for young adults and their parents in terms of family management and conflict issues. In conclusion, some recommendations were made for the formulation of relevant strategies that might help undergraduate students in adopting stronger family values.