Parental involvement in partner choice: the case of Turks and Moroccans in the Netherlands

Pascale I. van Zantvliet, Tilburg University
Matthijs Kalmijn, Tilburg University
Ellen Verbakel, Tilburg University

This study contributes to previous research on partner choice by providing more insight into third party influence. More specifically, the study aims to describe and explain parental involvement among Turkish and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands. Analysis of the large scale national data of the Netherlands Longitudinal Life-course Study (NELLS) shows that parental involvement is modest among Turkish and Moroccan, but relatively high when compared to levels of parental involvement among the native Dutch. Furthermore, analyses reveal variation within the Turkish and Moroccan group. Our study shows that more independent children are less likely to experience parental involvement and that parental involvement is lower in dating and cohabitation. Furthermore, our study suggests that parental involvement has several consequences for the life course, including the type of partner that is chosen and union development.