A Correlation and Regression Analysis of Social and Cultural Factors Affecting the Compatibility of Ahwaz City's Youth with Their Parents with an Emphasis on the Generation Gap
Keywords:
Generation gap, normative pressure, social identity, religious beliefs, parent child compatibility, AhvazAbstract
The objective of this study was to examine the influence of social and cultural factors—including social identity, normative pressure, religious commitment, and self-esteem—on the compatibility between youth and their parents in Ahvaz. This descriptive–analytical cross-sectional study collected data from 400 young participants in Ahvaz selected through multistage stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess key social, cultural, and normative variables. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation tests, and stepwise multiple regression to determine the relationships and predictive power of the independent variables on intergenerational compatibility. Pearson correlations revealed a strong negative relationship between normative pressure on parents and parent–child compatibility (R = -0.86, p < .001). Parental religious commitment also showed a significant negative association with compatibility (R = -0.71, p < .001), while youth religious commitment had a positive and significant relationship (R = 0.31, p < .001). Youth social identity demonstrated a significant negative association with compatibility (R = -0.37, p < .001). Self-esteem had no significant correlation. Regression analysis showed that normative pressure, parents’ identity, youth identity, and youth religiosity were the strongest predictors of compatibility, explaining a substantial proportion of variance. The findings indicate that intergenerational incompatibility in Ahvaz is shaped primarily by normative pressures, identity disparities, and differing patterns of religiosity between generations. While social pressures tend to reduce harmony between parents and children, shared cultural and religious orientations among youth contribute to enhanced compatibility.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Bagher koopaii, Mansour Vosoughi (Author)
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