Influence of intergenerational intimacy, intergenerational autonomy, personal power, and positional power on spousal intimacy and spousal autonomy in dual-earner families

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive value of a model comprised of intergenerational intimacy with mother, intergenerational intimacy with father, intergenerational fusion/individuation with mother, intergenerational fusion/individuation with father, personal power, and positional power on spousal intimacy and spousal fusion/individuation. Ninety-two dual-earner husbands and wives participated. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the first block of variables, intergenerational intimacy and fusion/individuation with mother accounted for most of the variance in spousal intimacy and spousal fusion individuation. The overall model was predictive of spousal fusion/individuation for husbands and wives. Intergenerational fusion/individuation with father was the most powerful predictor and the relationship was a positive one. Personal power also accounted for a significant amount of variance in the overall model but the relationship was inverse. The overall model was found to be predictive of spousal intimacy in husbands and wives. Intergenerational intimacy with mother was a significant predictor variable and the relationship was positive and personal power was a significant predictor but the relationship was inverse.