Value transmission in women of two consecutive generations: An examination in migrant and non-migrant groups

The main purpose of this study is to examine the selective continuity and difference view of intergenerational transmission of values within immigrant and non-immigrant mother-daughter pairs through the scope of Schwartz's Theory of Basic Values. From this point of view, the relationships between values and the meaningful elements of the mother-daughter couple's lives, such as socio-demographic factors, essential stress sources, and different identities and levels of identification, also investigated. The sample of the current study consisted of 64 immigrants and 65 non-immigrant mother-daughter pairs. The findings are that, as expected, the four core values show a significant relationship with the education level and the socio-economic status perceived by women. However, the level of income is associated only with the basic value of self-enhancement. In both immigrant and non-immigrant duo, mothers adopt the conservative approach more than their daughters and are less open to change. The fact that the core value of self-esteem does not change between generations supports the view of selective continuity and difference. The pattern of intergenerational transmission of the self-enhancement value has resulted in specific to the mother and daughter couples depending on the immigration/local positions. Accordingly, while the basic value of self-enhancement differs between generations in the immigrant group, it shows continuity between generations in the non-immigrant group. Positive correlations between sources of stress and values appeared; specific to openness to change, self-enhancement, and self-transcedence and gender role stress. The cultural stress of the migrant mother-daughter pairs and the values of openness to change and self-enhancement show negative relationships. This group of findings gives an idea that the values may have a stress specific effect. The increase in the level of interaction of immigrant mother-and-daughters with the host culture is associated with a significant reduction in acculturation stress, and these relationships are stronger for immigrant, first-generation mothers. Daughters of both immigrant and non-immigrant mothers experience gender role stress at a higher level than their mothers. The results support the selective continuity and difference view of value transmission for the mother-daughter couples. Our findings indicate a promising hallway of including the same cultural groups of different backgrounds for acknowledging the intergenerational tran-sition of the values. The findings are discussed within the framework of the value transition, and limitations are also informed. Key Words: Values, intergenerational value transmission, selective continuity and difference view, acculturation stress, gender role stress, migration