Mothers’ experiences of their adult child’s interethnic relationship

The number of interethnic relationships is increasing in many countries around the world. Research regarding the experiences of interethnic couples indicates considerable variation in the reactions of parents towards such relationship types (as reported by those within the relationship). In some studies, significant and sometimes violent opposition has been reported, resulting in negative consequences for the adult child, the couple and presumably the parents. Despite such reports, no research has considered the experiences of parents from the perspective of parents themselves. As such, I explored mothers’ experiences of their child’s interethnic relationship with the aim of determining the nature of their experiences and the factors that influenced their experiences. I approached the research from a developmental psychology perspective, considering the meaning that mothers ascribed to their experiences, and the implications of their experience for their relationships, their role as a parent, and their development as an individual. I applied social constructionist, grounded theory methodology to develop an understanding of mothers’ experiences. Interviews were conducted with 30 mothers from various ethnic backgrounds, aged 43 to 78 years, all of whom resided in Australia. I found that mothers’ experiences of their child’s interethnic relationship were varied. Concern regarding ethnic difference, the possibility of relocation and/or the possibility that their child’s relationship was driven by insincere motives (on the partners’ part), characterised the experience of some mothers. Mothers experienced concern about these issues because each was perceived as a threat to their parenting-related, developmental goals of 1) wanting the best for their child and 2) wanting to stay involved in the life of their child. Both goals were important to mothers in satisfying generative concern. Experiences were varied in the sense that concern was not experienced by all mothers. Instead, concern was moderated by mothers’ experience of difference; that being the extent of difference that mothers’ perceived between themselves/their child and their child’s partner, and their acceptance of any perceived differences. Concern was also moderated by mothers’ progress with the parenting task associated with middle adulthood; letting go. The experiences of mothers were also varied in that some mothers described change over the course of their child’s relationship. Specifically, a number of mothers experienced personal growth in the context of their child’s interethnic relationship which not only influenced experiences of the relationship but also moved them closer towards the developmental goals of generativity and wisdom. Growth was, however, dependent on a number of factors relating to the nature of their child’s relationship and their own personality. In this way, growth can be understood as resulting from the interaction between contextual and individual factors; consistent with systems theory of development. The findings of my research provide new understanding of the relevance of a child’s life decision (their choice of intimate partner) to the developmental progression of mothers. This brings new insight to existing theory and research regarding parent experiences of their child’s interethnic relationship, parenting an adult child, and adult development in middle to later adulthood

The influence of contextual information regarding the breakdown of relationships and perpetrator-target sex composition on perceptions of relational stalking

The present study examines the influence of prior relationship (with contextual information regarding the breakdown of the relationship) and perpetrator-target sex composition on perceptions of relational stalking. The study employed an experimental 7 × 2 independent measures design, and the sample comprised 1,260 members of the community residing in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Participants received one of 14 versions of a hypothetical scenario and responded to scale items concerning the situation described. The situation was perceived to be most serious when the perpetrator was a stranger or a physically violent ex-partner and least serious when the perpetrator was an ex-partner of an unfaithful target. Scenarios involving a male perpetrator and a female victim were also perceived to be more serious than scenarios involving a female perpetrator and a male target. It is apparent therefore that the context of the relationship breakdown and the sex of the perpetrator and target significantly influence perceptions of relational stalking

Crossing a Line? Understandings of the Relative Seriousness of Online and Offline Intrusive Behaviours Among Young Adults

There has been a rise in online stalking via social media platforms in part because stalking perpetrators can perform many intrusive behaviours with a degree of anonymity and relative impunity. This chapter examines young adults’ understandings of the seriousness of conceptually similar online and offline intrusive behaviours. Focus groups were conducted with 45 university students across 10 groups, using a modified Q-sort task, whereby participants categorised and ranked 20 cue cards that presented 10 online and 10 conceptually similar offline intrusive behaviours. Overall, participants perceived offline intrusive behaviours as more serious than their conceptually similar online counterparts, and five key assumptions shaped their understandings of the relative seriousness of these behaviours: intent, effort, physicality, choice and control, and norms and expectations. Importantly, there were notable gender differences in their understandings, whereby men focused on the explicit content of the intrusive behaviours and women focused on the implicit meaning of these behaviours. Consequently, men were more likely to trivialise both online and offline intrusive behaviours than women. Implications for future research and responses addressing the gendered nature of online stalking are discussed

Public familiarity and understanding of stalking/harassment legislation in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Perceptions are central to determining whether a particular pattern of behaviour is considered ‘reasonable’ pursuit behaviour or ‘unreasonable’ stalking behaviour, and research has highlighted the potential for legislation, and the associated media coverage, to have a positive impact on perceptions of stalking. The present study provides a unique insight into public familiarity and understanding of stalking/harassment legislation in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A sample of 3,803 members of the public were asked about their familiarity with, and understanding of, the respective legislation. A minority of participants indicated that they were familiar with the legislation (21.4%) and a smaller minority provided information regarding their understanding of the legislation (14.4%). US participants were more likely to indicate that they were familiar with the legislation, but Australian and UK participants included more words when articulating their understanding of the legislation. Overall, participants’ level of understanding was extremely rudimentary, with the content of their responses reflecting generally accepted definitions of stalking rather than the specifics of the respective legislation. It is important to increase public understanding of legislation and the reality of stalking, in order to increase the likelihood of victims, as well as their family and friends, identifying experiences as stalking

Framing and perceptions of stalking: The influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator-target relationship

Research has demonstrated that the way in which questions are presented (i.e. framed) has the capacity to influence responses to subsequent questions. In the context of stalking, perception research has often been framed in terms of whether or not particular behaviours constitute stalking. The current research investigates whether the framing of the opening question (question frame), conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship influence perceptions of stalking. Two studies employed experimental 3×3 independent factorial designs: one to examine question frame and conduct severity, the other to examine question frame and the perpetrator–target relationship. Participants in both studies (total N=449) were presented with vignettes and asked to answer six questions relating to the behaviour described. Question frame was found to impact on the classification of behaviour, with a greater proportion of participants indicating that the behaviour represented harassment or stalking rather than an illegal act. Consistent with previous research, conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship influenced perceptions of stalking. However, there was no evidence to suggest that the framing of the opening question influenced these perceptions. The implications of these findings for previous perception research are discussed