Mendonça, M., & Fontaine, A. M.
Filial maturity in young adult children: The validity of the Filial Maturity Measure and the role of adult transitions
Filial maturity refers to adult children’s ability to perceive parents as other adults with qualities and vulnerabilities. Although few studies have empirically analysed this concept, most have used samples of middle-aged adults. In this study we had two main aims: (a) to test the construct validity of the Filial Maturity Measure (FMM) in a sample of Portuguese young adults; (b) and to examine how comprehending and distancing dimensions of the FMM varied with young adults’ age and life transitions (i.e., employment and leaving parental home). A sample of 593 young adults aged between 19 and 30 years old was randomly assigned to a calibration (n = 297) and validation (n = 296) sample. Factorial validity and cross-validation of the FMM were tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. These analyses gave support to a two-factor measure with nine items; however the distancing factor presented validity problems. Results also showed that the development of filial maturity was associated with life course transitions that led to greater independence from parents.
