Mothers and Daughters: Aid Patterns and Attachment

In this paper we examine the association of aid exchange with attachment in two sets of mother-daughter relationships-student women and their mothers (139 pairs) and these same middle-aged mothers and their mothers (110 pairs). In each case both partners are respondents. Each pair is categorized by the pattern of aid exchange-high reciprocity, low reciprocity, mother dependent, daughter dependent. Attachment reflects emotional dependence. Mothers reported greater attachment than daughters in the older pairs. There was a main effect for aid pattern on attachment in older pairs; high reciprocity relationships displayed greater attachment than other aid patterns. In the younger pairs, there was an interaction effect of aid pattern and generation on attachment. Mothers and daughters perceived attachment differently in nonreciprocal relationships but not in reciprocal relationships; the dependent partner reported less attachment. Different results for the two sets of intergenerational relationships are discussed in terms of individual and relationship development.