Parenting Adolescents in India: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

Contemporary parenting has witnessed a multitude of adaptations over the past decade across various cultural setings. Adolescent atachment paterns with parents have been explored in varying cultural contexts. These atachment paterns have been extensively studied in the light of adolescence as a turbulent phase of development. This chapter ofers a systematic review of the cultural factors inluencing parenting, with a theoretical analysis speciic to adolescents within the Indian context. Based on the exploration of these cultural inluences on parenting, the chapter further explores the relevance of mindfulness-based approaches within the Indian culture, with an applicability of a model of mindful parenting speciically with adolescents in India. The conceptualization of mindfulness-based approaches stems from both Eastern and Western cultures, which have signiicant inluences on parenting of adolescents. The components of mindful parenting have shown applicability within the dynamic context of parental-adolescent atachment paterns, especially considering the culture-speciic concept of interdependence in a collectivistic culture like India. Such indings have potential implications for the formulation of parenting strategies toward the future of adolescent mental health in the country.

How Iranian Mothers Raise Their Adolescent Children: A Qualitative Content Analysis

“…Building trust in adolescents increases the likelihood of compliance with the mother and prevents the adolescent from taking refuge in peers who, due to lack of experience, are not good counselors for them [27]. According to the mothers' experiences of laying the groundwork for adolescents' upbringing, it can be inferred that their practice in parenting was based on the authoritative method, while in most Asian countries, families act in an authoritarian manner [2,16]. Mothers are considered an important source of nurturance and support for child independence [31].…”

“…Culturally, Iran, similar to other Middle Eastern countries, is a collectivist society [10]. In collectivist cultures, the authoritarian parenting style is more common [2,34]. Loyalty to the family takes precedence over personal wishes, and independence is not a high level priority and value [24].…”

“…The parental practice is a determining factor in adolescents' academic achievement, self-esteem improvement, independence attainment, social adjustment, and high-risk behaviors reduction [1]. Most parents consider their child's adolescence period to be the most di cult stage of parenting [2].…”

Procrastination and Anxiety among Indian college students: The role of perceived parenting styles, locus of control and self efficacy

“…For instance, collectivist cultures tend to emphasise family obligations and interdependence, whereas individualistic cultures tend to emphasise independence and autonomy. Often, in collectivist cultures, restrictiveness is not associated with a lack of warmth (Sondhi, 2017). In fact, it is common for parents to expect obedience, adherence to family values and fulfilment of familial social obligations.…”

“…In fact, it is common for parents to expect obedience, adherence to family values and fulfilment of familial social obligations. Such interdependence tends to be more or less absent in families in individualistic cultures (Sondhi, 2017). Thus, these cultural differences must be considered when drawing conclusions regarding the role of parenting styles.…”