Socialization goals of first-generation immigrant Indian parents: A Q-methodological study.

Abstract

This research utilized Q methodology (Stephenson, 1953) to uncover first-generation immigrant Indian parents' (N = 18) socialization goals for their children. Participants carried out the Q-sort task in response to two questions. Through the first question, we explored participants' socialization goals for their children in the United States, whereas through the second question, we explored participants' perception of the socialization goals of parents raising children in India. We also conducted follow-up semistructured interviews with a representative set of participants. Factor analyses of the participants' Q-sorts yielded two dominant patterns. The first pattern—blended—was a combination of autonomy and family-centered socialization goals, whereas the second pattern—traditional—emphasized ethnic behaviors and family-centered values. Taking the combinations of ways that the parents could sort in response to the two questions, there were four viewpoints among the Indian immigrant community. Parents in the first group integrated children's autonomy and family-centered behaviors in their goals and believed that parents in India did the same. Parents holding the second and third viewpoint endorsed ethnic behaviors and family-centered values for their own children. Whereas parents in the second group perceived parents in India to have goals similar to their own, parents in the third group perceived Indian parents' goals as blended. Participants holding the fourth viewpoint emphasized their children's autonomy and family-centered behaviors, but believed that parents in India put greater emphasis only on family-centered values and ethnic behaviors. The discussion includes the implications of the four viewpoints for parental and child well-being.

Intergenerational Transmission of Tridimensional Cultural Orientations in Chinese American Families: The Role of Bicultural Socialization

“…While bicultural socialization has been demonstrated in prior qualitative studies on ethnic minority parents (Cheah et al, 2013; John & Montgomery, 2012; Lieber et al, 2004; Uttal, 2011), this study is among the first to assess this approach to cultural socialization and to identify its role in developing adolescent cultural orientations. Compared to ethnic socialization, bicultural socialization may better capture ethnic minority parents’ approach to cultural socialization, as it recognizes parents’ role in shaping children’s cultural orientations more generally, rather than implying that their influence is limited to passing on their heritage culture.…”

“…(e.g., Chinese American parents) socialize their children not only toward the ethnic culture but also toward the mainstream American culture; they hold bicultural socialization beliefs, believing that it is important for their children to adopt both cultures, ethnic and American. For example, Chinese American parents may want their children to be “American” but still retain parts of Chinese culture (Cheah, Leung, & Zhou, 2013; John & Montgomery, 2012; Lieber, Nihira, & Mink, 2004; Uttal, 2011). Parents’ beliefs about the importance of adopting both cultures may be internalized to form adolescents’ own bicultural socialization beliefs, thus linking parents’ and adolescents’ cultural orientations.…”

“…To date, the role that parents may play in the development of cultural orientations other than ethnic orientation has been understudied. This is an important issue that requires more investigation, because a) ethnic minorities in the United States can develop multiple cultural orientations (Ferguson, Bornstein, & Pottinger, 2012; Kim, Gonzales, Stroh, & Wang, 2006) and b) in addition to ethnic socialization, parents may also adopt other cultural socialization beliefs, such as bicultural socialization beliefs (John & Montgomery, 2012; Lieber et al, 2004), which may relate not only to adolescents’ ethnic orientation but also to other cultural orientations. These two points are discussed in more detail below.…”

“…(e.g., Chinese immigrants and Indian immigrants) hold bicultural socialization beliefs (Cheah et al, 2013; John & Montgomery, 2012; Lieber et al, 2004; Uttal, 2011). These parents believe that it is important for their children to adopt both their ethnic culture and the U.S. culture.…”

‘This is our culture!’ or is it? Second generation Asian Indian individuals’ perceptions of parents’ socialization messages

“…While there have been studies on first generation Indian immigrant parenting experiences (Augusti-Panareda, 2006;Bhalla, 2008;Das & Kemp, 1997;Dasgupta, 1998;Farver, Xu, Bhadha, Narang, & Lieber, 2007;Inman et al, 2007;John & Montgomery, 2012;Phinney, Ong, Lansford, Deater-Deckard, & Bornstein, 2007), the second generation's -that is, the children's -experiences have been studied primarily in terms of psychological outcomes such as anxiety and self-esteem. Little is known about children's perceptions of the messages they receive about the norms of the natal culture vis-à-vis the host culture.…”