Cultural differences in the relationship between parenting and children's behavior.

Abstract

Parent and teacher data for 14,990 children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth were used in multilevel analyses to examine the relationship between ethnicity, children's aggression and emotional problems, and parenting. Using parent and teacher report, relationships between ethnicity and child behavior were present but modest. The association between parental harshness and child aggression differed between ethnic groups and across informants. Using teacher report of outcomes, parental harshness was positively related to child aggression in European Canadian families but negatively related in South Asian Canadian families. For all ethnic groups, parental harshness was positively related to children's aggression when parent report of outcomes was used, but relationships varied in strength across ethnic groups. The relationship of parental harshness with child emotional problems did not differ across groups, irrespective of informant. The results are discussed within the context of an ecological model of parenting.

Parenting and child adjustment: a comparison of Turkish and English families

“…Specifically, harsh discipline is more strongly linked to child aggression among European Americans than among African Americans (Deater-Deckard, & Dodge, 1997;Lansford, 2010). This pattern --strongest links for European origin children --also emerged from a population-based sample of Canadian families (Ho et al, 2008). This robust finding does not hold true for all cultural comparisons, however.…”

The Effects of Parenting Styles on Behavioral Problems in Primary School Children: A Cross-Cultural Review

“…However, when mother-reported child externalising problems were evaluated , significant relationships were found for both European-American and African-American. Similarly, Ho et al (2008), using teacher-reports, showed a positive relationship between parental harshness and parent-rated child aggression among European Canadians, but not among Southern Asian Canadian families. Likewise, in the study by Yang et al (2014) no statistically significant results were found using teacher-reported behavioural problems; however, several correlations were reported between parenting styles and behavioural problems when using parent's statements.…”

“…Normality of the data was reported in the study of Aunola and Nurmi, (2005) and Braza et al, 2013). Missing data were reported in 5 studies (Deater-Deckard et al, 1996;Lansford, Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 2004;Ho et al, 2008;McKee et al, 2007;Yang et al, 2014).…”

“…Together, these studies highlight a persistent culture of physical discipline across North America; clearly indicating an effect in relation to externalising and internalising behaviours and gender differences in both the person who administers physical discipline and whom is the likely recipient of said discipline. Ho et al (2008) reported a positive relationship between parental harshness and parental ratings of children's aggression among Canadian families of all ethnicities. However, when teacher-reports were used, this relationship was positive only for European Canadian families, but negative for Southern Asian Canadian families.…”

“…In total, 21 studies met the criteria (Ali & Frederickson, 2011;Alizadeh, Abu Talib, Abdullah, & Mansor, 2011;Aunola & Nurmi, 2005;Azimi, Vaziri, & Kashani, 2012;Barber, Olsen, & Shagle, 1994;Berkien, Louwerse, Verhulst, & van der Ende, 2012;Braza et al, 2013;Chen, Dong, & Zhou, 1997;Deater-Deckard et al, 1996;Fletcher, Walls, Cook, Madison, & Bridges, 2008;Goraya & Sabah, 2013;Ho et al, 2008;Kaufmann et al, 2000;Lansford, Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 2004;Lau, Litrownik, Newton, Black, & Everson, 2006;McKee et al, 2007;Pereira, Canavarro, Cardoso, & Mendonc, 2009;Raboteg-Šarić et al, 2001;Scott, Doolan, Beckett, Harry, & Cartwright, 2010;Stevens et al, 2007;Yang, Kuo, Wang, & Yang, 2014). Table 1 provides an overview of these studies.…”