Developmental maturity expectations of Israeli fathers and mothers: Effects of education, ethnic origin, and religiosity

This study investigated expectations of maturity in children among 380 Israeli Jewish fathers and mothers of 6-month-old infants. Subjects were administered a questionnaire which included items reflecting three developmental domains: Cognitive Maturity, Biosocial Maturity, and Social Autonomy. Regarding Cognitive Maturity mothers had earlier expectations than fathers, intermediate and higher educated parents had earlier expectations than lower educated and nonreligious (Secular) parents and moderately religious (Traditional) parents had earlier maturity expectations than religiously strict (Orthodox) parents. A reverse pattern could be observed for Biosocial Maturity: lower educated parents had earlier expectations than higher educated parents, Orthodox parents had earlier expectations than Traditional or Secular parents and parents of Asian or North African origin had earlier maturity expectations than parents of European or American origin. On Social Autonomy mothers had earlier maturity expectations than fathers and Secular and Orthodox parents had earlier expectations than Traditional parents. The results suggest that parental expectations of maturity form a multidimensional construct in which sex and social background of the parent are related to early expectations in some areas and late expectations in others, depending on the values of their societal subgroup.