Cultural Roots of Parenting: Mothers’ Parental Social Cognitions and Practices From Western US and Shanghai/China

Abstract

Cultural values can be considered as important factors that impact parents’ social cognitions and parenting practices. However, few studies compare specific cultural values of parents and the relationships between cultural values and parenting processes in eastern and western contexts. This study examined the ethnicity differences in mothers’ cultural values, parental social cognitions (child-rearing ideologies and goals), and parenting practices between Mainland Chinese and European American contexts. Predictors of parenting goals and parenting practices were also investigated. Mothers of 4–6 years old children from the western United States (N = 78) and Shanghai/China (N = 96) participated in this study. The results suggested that mothers from Shanghai/China were both more collectivistic and individualistic than mothers from the western United States. Chinese mothers more strongly endorsed training and collectivistic parenting goals, while European American mothers more strongly endorsed individualistic parenting goals for their children. However, no significant difference was found in parenting practices for both groups of mothers. For both ethnic groups, in general, mothers’ cultural values have small but significant impact on their parenting processes. The prediction of cultural values and parenting goals on parenting practices were also different for both ethnicity groups. Although Chinese mothers were higher on both individualism and collectivism, their collectivistic values were more important in predicting parental social cognitions.

Parenting Stress and Social Style in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Cultural Investigation in Italy and Japan

“…In fact, collectivistic cultural tendencies such as trying to adjust them to a typical standard may increase their parenting stress in mothers and fathers of children with ASD. Parenting a child with atypical neurodevelopment entails various challenges that may be at odds with a collectivistic approach, which relies on attending family and community harmony [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In this socio-cultural context, ASD socio-communicative impairment can make adherence to group common values and norms harder to accomplish, constituting a considerable source of stress for parents.…”

“…In such societies, social harmony is highly valued, and individuals are expected to inhibit the expression of their own needs and attend to the needs of others in their in-group [ 15 ]. Parents in collectivistic cultures try to promote these values through parenting practices that encourage children to view themselves as part of the integrated whole of their in-group (family, community, and society), and not to emphasize their differences from others [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. On the other hand, Italian culture is defined as individualistic, since the interests of the individual overcome the benefits of the group.…”

Revisiting the Causes of the Pull-to-Centre Effect: Evidence From China

“…On this account, individuals who ascribe to collectivistic values also tend to engage in social comparisons to ensure they conform to group norms. Consequently, people always enter into social competition and seek self-satisfaction from excelling, especially in academic skills and results (He et al, 2021). While overconfidence testing cannot induce social comparison for no visible bonuses, performance in ordering decisions is directly related to financial rewards, which can easily make people more cautious about living up to social expectations.…”

Parenting in Cultural Perspective: A Systematic Review of Paternal Role Across Cultures

“…However, notwithstanding the extensive literature on parenting topics, it is quite difficult to find an agreed definition of the construct of parenting based on culture, as it has been conceptualized in many ways. But, most of the literature are agreed that culture is a significant element of parenting (He et al, 2021). For instance, some authors emphasized that parenting variables have more universal effects when compared cross-culturally.…”