Parenting Infants

Abstract

This study was aimed at contributing to the understanding of cultural parenting strategies in a context of immigration. Socialization goals (SGs) and parenting behaviors during interaction with 3-month-old infants of first-generation West African immigrant mothers in Italy and autochthonous Italian mothers were compared. The relation between SGs and maternal behaviors within the two groups was also examined. As expected, results showed that West African immigrant mothers placed more emphasis on SGs related to hierarchical relatedness and a proximal parenting style than Italian mothers, who emphasized SGs related to psychological autonomy and a distal parenting style. Although there were no significant differences in the amount of overall vocal/verbal behaviors between the two samples, West African immigrant mothers showed longer durations of rhythmic vocalizing and singing than Italian mothers, who showed more affectionate talking. Compared with the literature on West African parenting strategies, this result suggests a possible increased amount of talking of immigrant mothers in the new language-driven environment, but maintenance of a protosong structure typical of their culture of origin. Furthermore, a significant association between socialization goals and parenting behaviors was found in the Italian group of mothers but not in the sample of immigrant mothers, suggesting that the weaker links between goals and behaviors in the immigrant sample may express a reorganization in the composition of parenting beliefs and practices.

Maternal socialization goals and the spontaneous prosocial behavior of children in rural contexts

“…Parental socialization goals, regarding their children's development, have gained a growing interest among researchers (Carra, Lavelli, Keller, & Kärtner, 2013;Kärtner, Keller, & Chaudhary, 2010;Ng, Tamis-LeMonda, Godfrey, Hunter, & Yoshikawa, 2012), who seek to comprehend the influence of socialization goals and parenting practices on a child's developmental trajectory.…”

“…The difference between models that combine diverse tendencies has elicited the interest of many present-day researchers, along an empirical approach over importance of the context, comprehending one's origins and their implications in child development. Research in this direction has been conducted on various cultures (Carra et al, 2013;Durgel et al, 2009;Harkness & Super, 1992;Ng et al, 2012) and socioeconomic contexts (Keller, 2007;Keller et al, 2006;Lordelo et al, 2012).…”

Models of Self in Families of People with Spina Bifida

“…a significant association between the socialization goals and parenting strategies of Italian mothers but not of immigrant mothers, suggesting that the latter were undergoing reorganization in the elaboration of their practices and beliefs (Carra et al, 2013).…”

“…Another study aimed to understand, among other issues, the socialization goals of Italian mothers and of African mothers who migrated to Italy (Carra, Lavelli, Keller, & Kärtner, 2013). The results showed that the former emphasized goals related to psychological autonomy and distal parenting style, while immigrant mothers valued goals in the related model and a proximal parenting style.…”

Family acculturation in host and immigrant couples: Dyadic research in an Italian context

“…Therefore, Dinh and Nguyen (2006) have suggested that research should focus on the acculturation experience of the family as a whole. In the field of acculturation psychology, there are numerous studies documenting the impact of changes in the cultural context on parental socialization practices and parent-child relationships (Bornstein & Cote, 2006a, 2006b; Carra, Lavelli, Keller, & Kärtner, 2013; Durgel, Leyendecker, Yagmurlu, & Harwood, 2009; Moscardino, Nwobu, & Axia, 2006; Raghavan, Harkness, & Super, 2010; Rania, Migliorini, & Rebora, 2016; Tajima & Harachi, 2010; Yagmurlu & Sanson, 2009). A number of scholars has pointed out that the attitudes, values and behaviours of immigrant families are affected by acculturation processes and integration with the receiving culture (Berry, 1997; Bornstein & Cote, 2006a; Durgel et al, 2009; Tajima & Harachi, 2010; Yagmurlu & Sanson, 2009).…”