For the love of my child: How parents’ relative extrinsic aspirations for children and interdependent self-construal predict their relational well-being

Self-determination theory suggests that holding extrinsic aspirations (e.g., getting rich) over and above other aspirations bears negative implications for one’s relational well-being. The present research examined whether this pattern generalizes to the aspirations people hold for significant others and more specifically whether parents’ extrinsic aspirations for children (AFC), relative to other AFC, predict their well-being in their relationships with children. We also examined whether this relationship varies depending on parents’ interdependent self-construal. Results of four correlational studies ( N = 998 parents) revealed that, overall, relative extrinsic AFC predicted lower relational well-being. However, this relationship was attenuated among parents high (vs. low) in interdependent self-construal. This pattern of moderation was observed among U.S. parents at different stages of parenthood and partially replicated among a sample of Chinese parents. The findings suggest that interdependent self-construal could buffer against the negative implications of prioritizing extrinsic AFC for parental well-being.