IDENTITY STRIVINGS WITHIN THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP

The purpose of this study was to examine mother-daughter relationships and their individual perceptions of autonomy, intimacy, conflict, and quality of relationship. For 221 matched pairs of postadolescent females and their mothers, scores on autonomy were explored in relation to ratings of intimacy, conflict, and quality of relationship. Multiple regression analysis for daughters yielded two significant predictor variables for quality of relationship, conflict and one measure of autonomy. The regression for mothers yielded two significant predictor variables, conflict and intimacy. Implications for these findings were discussed in relation to development of identity of mothers and their adult daughters.