Alternate models of family influence on student political ideology.

In a longitudinal design, cross-lagged correlational analysis and path analysis were used to examine the causal relations among parental political ideology, parent-student interpersonal relations, and student political ideology. Data were obtained from 3 waves of a total of 405 white male undergraduates' scores on S. H. Lewis and R. E. Kraut's Student Ideology scale and 3 scales assessing types of family conflicts. Results show both parental ideology and family relations to be important determinants of a student's ideology. Leftist parental ideology and high family conflict each led to leftist student ideology, at least as the family variables were reported by the students. The finding that nonpolitical interpersonal relations were translated into political ideologies may be understood from psychoanalytic, social learning, or historical perspectives. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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