Abstract
According to interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory), parental acceptance is fundamentally important to healthy development. IPARTheory has been validated around the world, but there has been relatively little IPARTheory research conducted in Latin America. The first purpose of our research was to extend the reliability and convergent validity of measures of IPARTheory (perceived acceptance and rejection from parental figures, psychological maladjustment) among a Guatemalan sample. Because of Guatemala’s unique situation due to the relative fluidity of ethnic identity of the population and history of conflict between the two main ethnic groups of Ladinos and indigenous Maya people, we also examined how attitudes toward indigenous Maya people and Ladinos were related to participants’ perceived acceptance-rejection from parental figures. Participants were 62 students (75.8% women) from a public university in Guatemala who each completed a paper-and-pencil survey. Correlations ranging from 0.56 to 0.91 (p < .001) among the subscales of the IPARTheory measures, via strong Cronbach’s alphas ranging from 0.69 to 0.96, and correlations between IPARTheory measures and ethnic prejudice ranging from 0.26 to 0.34, provided support for the reliability and convergent validity of IPARTheory measures in Guatemala. The findings also established a relationship between parental acceptance-rejection and ethnic prejudice. Our study took an initial step in establishing IPARTheory in Guatemala and its connection to ethnic attitudes. Further research should establish IPARTheory measures in other Latin American countries, as well as explore connections between IPARTheory and other social psychological constructs.