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RELATIONSHIP. FAMILY VALUES
Erkinova Mushtariybonu
The second year student of Andijan State
Institute of Foreign Languages
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14243874
Abstract:
This study aimed to examine how family values influence the quality of
relationships between older siblings and their partners in long-term, intimate
relationships.
Keywords:
Adult siblings, family loyalty, interpersonal commitment, strong
relationships
The family is considered as the first environment of human development,
where a person learns basic life experiences, behavior patterns and important
knowledge about the world. Here, people begin to understand moral and social
norms, as well as values related to marriage, family, relationships, and basic life
experiences such as joy, suffering, life, and death. Psychologists emphasize the
decisive role of the family in the transmission of values that shape the self,
relationships and understanding of the world. This transmission of values helps
to stabilize and control social behavior, influence personal identity, and shape the
ability to manage interpersonal relationships and solve problems.Relationship.
Family values.
According to systems theory (de Barbaro, 1999), a person's value system
affects their relationships in various groups - from family (parents, children,
brothers and sisters) to school, work and romantic partnerships. In recent
decades, social and economic changes in Poland under the influence of
globalization have changed family structures. Currently, cohabitation is on the
rise, divorces are on the rise, marriages are on the decline, and more couples are
choosing not to have children. These shifts create challenges for family members
as they try to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable world. In addition, there have
been changes in values, with more emphasis on individuality and personal
satisfaction rather than family unity.
Modern families often face a conflict between the values of solidarity and
independence. This issue is central to the intergenerational theory of family
systems, suggesting that certain patterns—particularly those related to closeness
and autonomy—are transmitted and influence behavior in broader social
contexts. Systemic theory also emphasizes that personal growth, self-
actualization, and the ability to achieve one's goals depend on cooperation with
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immediate family members. Relationships within the family require mutual
support, which contributes to the development of each individual.
In the context of these social changes, it is very important to find protective
factors for the well-being of family members. Research suggests that one such
factor may be familism, a cultural value that emphasizes strong family loyalty,
trust, and togetherness. In familism, individuals feel a deeper sense of loyalty and
devotion to family members than to other social groups.
Familism includes five main aspects: three traditional values and two
focused on individualism. Traditional dimensions are family support, respect and
religion. Family support includes efforts to help and care for family members who
are closely related by blood. Respect means maintaining strong bonds between
generations, where children value their parents' wisdom and rely on it when
making decisions. Religion represents spiritual connection and belief in a higher
power. And individual dimensions are material success and individuality. These
emphasize financial well-being and independence.
Research shows that familism positively affects the quality of adult sibling
relationships, although research on this topic is limited. Relationships between
siblings are considered closely related to family communication. Kinship bonds
are formed from childhood through interactions, shared experiences, beliefs, and
emotions. These sibling relationships are typically seen along three dimensions:
warmth, conflict, and competition. Warmth represents loving, supportive and
intimate relationships based on similarity and mutual admiration. Conflict
reflects low-level agreements, power struggles, and competitive behavior.
Competition involves perceptions of fairness or unfairness in how parents treat
siblings in similar situations.
Examining the role of familism in long-term romantic commitment is also
valuable. Commitment is a key component of love in formal and informal
relationships and can be seen in three dimensions: connection with the partner,
concern for the well-being of the partner, and the value of the relationship.
Bonding with a partner reflects the intimacy and emotional connection in the
relationship, how committed each person is and the importance of the partner in
life. Concern for a partner's well-being can include a sense of obligation in the
relationship. Relationship importance reflects how seriously a relationship is
viewed and prioritized.
These ideas have provided a theoretical basis for psychological research
aimed at understanding how family values correspond to the quality of close
interpersonal relationships. The study sought to examine which aspects of
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familism are most influential in guiding people's choices in intimate
relationships.The study examined a group of adults to determine whether
familism could predict the quality of close relationships, focusing on both sibling
and long-term partner relationships. Previous research on interpersonal
commitment in close relationships suggests that gender does not significantly
influence relationship commitment. However, most research in this area focuses
on young people. Given these findings, the study aimed to examine the predictors
of interpersonal commitment in two age groups: early and middle adulthood. This
age division is based on Erikson's life stages, specifically the sixth and seventh
stages, which are concerned with developing relationships and caring for others.
In examining sibling relationships, the study looked at gender as a possible
factor influencing sibling warmth, analyzing males and females separately.
However, the analysis for conflict and competition includes the whole sample.
Given the exploratory nature of this study on age- and gender-adjusted family
relationships and commitments, the hypotheses are broad.The study addressed
two main research questions:
1. Which aspects of familism are most common among the participants?
2. Are dimensions of familism related to intimate relationship quality, and if
so, how?
In this study, familism was considered as a multidimensional concept.
Previous studies show that Polish society is gradually moving from a collectivist
to an individualist direction, but traditional values remain strong. Family, nation,
and religion are highly valued, suggesting that Poland fits South America rather
than Western culture.
Based on these observations, the first hypothesis was formulated:
Hypothesis 1: Collective family values (respect, religion and family support)
prevail among the sample of participants.Research has shown that collectivist
cultures such as Latin American, Vietnamese, and African American communities
often exhibit stronger family-oriented values, emphasizing care and support for
family members. With this in mind, the study aims to examine the relationship
between family values and commitment in long-term relationships, leading to
additional hypotheses:
Hypothesis 2.a: Family values are related to the Bond dimension in
relationships and reflect emotional closeness with the partner. Hypothesis 2.b:
Family values are related to the dimension of concern, indicating concern for the
partner's well-being. Hypothesis 2.c: Family values are related to a measure of
relationship importance, which indicates the level of relationship priority.These
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hypotheses highlight the role of family values in influencing relationships with
partners and siblings, especially within collectivist cultural settings. This research
seeks to deepen our understanding of how these values impact the strength and
quality of close interpersonal bonds.
References:
1. Azmitia, M., Cooper, C. R., & Brown, J. R. Supporting family, friends, and teachers
in the mathematics pathways of young Latino adolescents. Journal of Early
Adolescence, 29, 142–169.
2. Bakiera, L. The family from a sociological and psychological perspective:
continuity and change. Images of Family Life from an Interdisciplinary
Perspective, Roczniki Socjologii Rodziny [Annals of the Sociology of the Family],
XVII, pp. 101-115. Poznan: Adam Mickiewicz University Press.
