Relationship between Structure of Power and Cohesion in Family and Self Concept of Students

Family structure plays an important role in self-concept development of family members. Despite this, our information about relationship between self concept and power as ability of influence on behaviors of family members and cohesion as emotional relationship of family members in Iranian society is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to detect the relationship between students self concept and their perception of cohesion and power structure in family. This cross sectional study performed at Shiraz nursing school. Samples consisted of 130 nursing students selected by purposeful sampling. The self-concept of students was measured using 80 items Coopersmith self-concept inventory, maximum and minimum possible score on the scale is +80 and -80. Various aspects of relationship including cohesion and power in typical and ideal situation have 16 scores. Data were collected daily over a 2 week period using Family System Test (FAST), to measure perceptions of family members about power and cohesion in typical and ideal family due to place schematic figure on the board. There was a positive and significant relationship between the student's self-concept and their perception of cohesion between student-father (r=0.67), student-mother (r=0.38), and father-mother (r =0.4) in real family (p=0.0001). However, there was a reverse and significant correlation between the student's self-concept and their perception of power between father and mother in the family (r=-0.26, p=0.003). There was a statistically significant difference between real (10.15 ± 84) and ideal family (10.46±42) regarding to the student's perception of family cohesion and power (p≤0.0001). These findings revealed that student's self-concept rate, had a significant direct correlation with their perception of family cohesion and power. So this issue should be considering in family and parents education programs.