Abstract
The present study employed a cross sectional design to examine if family
composition influences levels of self-esteem, altruism, parental and peer attachment
and also the view on importance of marriage. A convenient sample was taken from
100 Dublin Business School students. The data collected was categorised by
whether the respondent had an upbringing with none, one or two of their biological
parents, age group and gender where also factored in. All participates were given a
questionnaire booklet containing three strong psychometric questionnaires: The
Rosenburg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment
Scale (1987) and The Self Report Altruism Scale (1981). A Likert scale question was
devised by the researcher in relation to their view on the Importance of Marriage.
The results from the data supported three of the hypotheses, with adults who
emerged from a one parent upbringing having lower levels of self-esteem and
altruism, and holding a lesser regard for marriage. The null hypoFinal Year Project was accepted
relating to parental and peer attachment as the results concluded no statistically
significant difference between the different family compositions. Limitations and
recommendations were suggested in this study. Author keywords: Family Composition, self-esteem, altruism, parental and peer attachment, marriage
