The image of parents in people with different levels of dispositional authenticity: a preliminary study

Abstract

The role of parents in the development of children's authenticity remains insufficiently explored and raises more questions than it answers. This exploratory study investigates the relationship between parental representations and the dispositional authenticity of adult children. To assess the variables of interest, the following instruments were used: an adapted version of the Semantic Differential for parent–child relationships, the Moscow Authenticity Scale, and the Brief Version of the Authenticity Inventory. The sample included 149 participants from intact families (Mage = 23.3 years, SD = 5.13; 61% females). Three core dimensions of parental representations were identified: Engagement–Alienation, Discipline–Permissiveness, and Harmony–Disharmony. The findings indicate that dispositional authenticity is significantly associated with the perceived image of the mother—positively with Engagement and Harmony, and negatively with Discipline—but shows little to no association with the image of the father.