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Journal of Family Issues
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Parental Mattering

A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Tendency to Evaluate the Self as Significant to One’s Children

Sheila K. Marshall

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

J. David Lambert

Edgewood College, Madison, WI

Studies of parental identity tend to focus on historical influences or experiences with the other parent of the child and overlook the influence of children on parents. To investigate children’s influence on parental identity, this study examines individuals’ perceived mattering or significance to their school-aged children. Cross-case qualitative analysis of data from 47 parents (n = 30 females, 17 males) reveals that mattering emerges from interactions with children and attention from children. Mattering is not viewed by participants as a global and stable trait but is identified as malleable. Parents also view their obligation and fulfillment of the role as an indication of mattering. As such, mattering helps to define the parental role, and enactment of the parental role enables parents to define themselves as significant to others.

Key Words: mattering • parental identity • parent-child relationships • significance

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 27, No. 11, 1561-1582 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0192513X06290039
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