Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction to Special Section on Cross-Cultural Research on Parenting and Psychological Adjustment of Children

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Parental factors such as control, rejection, and inconsistency have been reported as associated with psychological maladjustment. The papers in this Special Section are based on a multi-national study examining the association between these parental factors and adolescents’ psychological disorders in nine western and eastern countries, differing in family connectedness. Questionnaires assessing these factors were administered to 2,884 male and female adolescents. In this paper we discuss the parental factors and describe the methodology. We hypothesize that parental factors, family connectedness, and the association between these factors and adolescents’ mental health differ across cultures. In the papers that follow, we present the results and discuss their implications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alkernawi, A. (2000). Ethno-psychiatry in the bedouin arab society in the negev (in Hebrew). Tel Aviv, Israel: Hakebutz Hameo’had.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alkernawi, A., & Graham, J. R. (1997). Spirit possession and exorcism in the treatment of a Bedouin-Arabic psychiatric patient. Clinical Social Work Journal, 25, 211–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, A. L., Baldwin, C., & Cole, R. E. (1990). Stress-resistant families and stress-resistant children. In J. Rolf, A. Masten, D. Chicchetti, K. Nuechterlein, & S. Weintraub (Eds.), Risk and protective factors in the development of psychopathology (pp. 257–280). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barber, B., Olsen, J., & Shagle, S. (1994). Associations between parental psychological and behavioural control and youth internalizing and externalizing behaviours. Child Development, 65, 1120–1136.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1966). Effects of authoritative parental control on child behavior. Child Development, 37, 887–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1972). An exploratory study of socialization effects on black children: Some black-white comparison. Child Development, 43, 261–267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11, 56–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1996). Personal statements. Pediatrics, 98(4 part 2), 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (2005). Patterns of parental authority and adolescent autonomy. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 108, 61–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. P., Segall, M. H., & Dasen, P. R. (1992). Cross-cultural psychology: Research and application. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigner, J. J. (1994). Individual and family development: A life-span interdisciplinary approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogenschneider, K., Wu, M., Raffaelli, M., & Tsay, J. C. (1998). Parental influences on adolescents peer orientation and substance use: The interface of parenting practices and values. Child Development, 69, 1672–1688.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buri, J. R., Louiselle, P. A., Misukanis, T. M., & Mueller, R. A. (1988). Effects of parental authoritarianism and authoritativeness on self-esteem. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 14, 271–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao, R. K. (2001). Extending research on the consequences of parenting style for Chinese Americans and European Americans. Child Development, 72, 1832–1843.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chorpita, B. F., & Barlow, D. H. (1998). The development of anxiety: The role of control in the early environment. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 3–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cwikel, J., & Barak, N. (2002). The health and welfare of bedouin arab women in the negev [in Hebrew]. Negev, Israel: Center for Bedouin Studies and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dadds, M. R. (1995). Families, children, and the development of dysfunction. New York: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwairy, M. (2007). Parental inconsistency versus parental authoritarianism: Association with symptoms of psychological disorders. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, doi 10.1007/s10964-007-9169-3 .

  • Dwairy, M. (Nov. 2006). Causality and the phenomenon of contradictory outcomes in research. Journal of Chinese Clinical Medicine, 5, 272–282. http://www.cjmed.net/newsContent.aspx?id=67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwairy, M., & Menshar, K. E. (2006). Parenting style, individuation, and mental health of adolescents in Egypt. Journal of Adolescence, 29, 103–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dwairy, M., Achoui, M., Abouserie, R., & Farah, A. (2006). Parenting styles, individuation, and mental health of arab adolescents: A third cross-regional research study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 37, 262–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forward, S. (1989). Toxic parents: Overcoming their hurtful legacy and reclaiming your life. New York: Bantam Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1923/1962). The ego and the id: The standard edition. New York: Norton.

  • Garber, J., & Flynn, C. (2001). Vulnerability to depression in childhood and adolescence. In R. E. Ingram & J. M. Price (Eds.), Vulnerability to psychopathology: Risk across the lifespan (pp. 175–225). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gavazzi, S. M., & Sabatelli, R. M. (1987). Assessing levels of individuation through multigenerational interconnectedness. Paper presented at the National council of family relations 49th annual conference, Atlanta.

  • Gavazzi, S. M., & Sabatelli, R. M. (1988). Multigenerational interconnectedness and family involvement: Assessing levels of individuation in adolescence and early adulthood. Paper presented at the National council of family relations 50th annual conference, Philadelphia.

  • Gavazzi, S. M., & Sabatelli, R. M. (1990). Family system dynamics, the individuation process, and psychosocial development. Journal of Adolescent Research, 5, 500–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodnow, J. J. (1985). Change and variation in ideas about childhood and parenting. In I. E. Sigel (Ed.), Parental belief system: The psychological consequences for children. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamuda, M. A., & Imam, I. A. (1996). The Psychological state scale for adolescents and adults. Cairo, Egypt: Dar El Fekr El Arabi. (in Arabic).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hersov, L. (1960). Persistent non-attendance at school. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1, 130–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions and organizations across nations. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagitcibasi, C. (1970). Social norms and authoritarianism: A Turkish-American comparison. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 16, 444–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kagitcibasi, C. (2005). Autonomy and relatedness in cultural context: Implications for self and family. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 36, 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khaleque, A., & Rohner, R. P. (2002). Reliability of measures assessing the pancultural association between perceived parental acceptance–rejection and psychological adjustment: A meta-analysis of cross-cultural and intracultural studies. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 33, 87–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, E., Cain, K., & McCubbin, M. (2006). Maternal and paternal parenting, acculturation, and young adolescents’ psychological adjustment in Korean American families. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 19, 112–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamborn, S. D., Mants, N. S., Steinberg, L., & Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Patterns of competence and adjustment among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful families. Child Development, 62, 1049–1106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, K., Lau, S., & Lam, W. L. (1998). Parenting styles and achievement: A cross-cultural study. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 44, 157–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J. A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent child interaction. In P. H. Mussen (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology (pp. 1–102). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, B. D., Wood, J. J., & Weisz, J. R. (2007a). Examining the association between parenting and childhood anxiety: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 155–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, B. D., Weisz, J. R., & Wood, J. J. (2007b). Examining the association between parenting and childhood depression: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 986–1003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R. (1982). A social learning approach: Coercive family process. Eugene, OR: Castalia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelto, P. J. (1968). The difference between “tight” and “loose” societies. Transaction, 37–40.

  • Randolph, S. M. (1995). African American children in single-mother families. In B. J. Dickerson (Ed.), African American single mothers: Understanding their lives and families. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitman, D., Rhode, P. C., Hupp, S. D. A., & Altobello, C. (2002). Development and validation of the parental authority questionnaire- revised. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 24, 119–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P. (1986). The warmth dimension: Foundations of parental acceptance–rejection theory. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P. (1999). Acceptance and rejection. In D. Levinson, J. Ponzetti, & P. Jorgensen (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human emotions (Vol. 1, pp. 6–14). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P., & Khaleque, A. (2003). Reliability and validity of parental control scale: A meta-analysis of cross-cultural and intercultural studies. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 34, 643–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P., & Pettengill, S. M. (1985). Perceived parental acceptance–rejection and parental control among korian adolescents. Child Development, 56, 524–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P., & Khaleque, A. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook for the study of parental acceptance and rejection (4th ed.). Storrs, CT: Rohner Research Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohner, R. P., Khaleque, A., & Cournoyer, D. E. (2005). Parental acceptance–rejection theory, methods, evidence, and implications. http://vm.uconn.edu/-rohner. Retrieved Jan 27 2005.

  • Rothbaum, F., & Weisz, J. R. (1994). Parental caregiving and child externalizing behaviour in nonclinical sample: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 116, 55–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, E. S. (1965). Children’s reports of parental behavior: An inventory. Child Development, 36, 413–424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B. (2007). “I will love you if you do as I say” How psychological controlling parenting undermines parent-child acceptance. International Society for Interpersonal acceptance and Rejection (Newsletter), 1(3), 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, M. B., & Dornbush, S. M. (1990). Challenges in studying minority youth. In S. S. Feldman & G. R. Elliot (Eds.), At the threshold: The developing adolescent. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L., Mounts, N., Lamborn, S., & Dornbusch, S. (1991). Authoritative parenting and adolescent adjustment across varied ecological niches. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 1, 19–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L., Lamborn, S., Dornbusch, S., & Darling, N. (1992a). Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: Authoritative parenting, school involvement, and encouragement to succeed. Child Development, 63, 1266–1281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L., Dornbusch, S., & Brown, B. B. (1992b). Ethnic differences in adolescent achievement: An ecological perspective. American Psychologist, 47, 723–729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L., Lamborn, S. D., Dornbusch, S. M., & Darling, N. (1994). Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: Authoritative parenting, school involvement, and encouragement to succeed. Child Development, 63, 1266–1281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobin, J. J., Wu, D. Y. H., & Davidson, D. H. (1989). Preschool in three cultures. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisz, J. R., Southam-Gerow, M. A., & McCarty, C. A. (2003). Control-related beliefs and depressive symptoms in clinic-referred children and adolescents: Developmental differences and model specificity. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110, 97–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenar, C. (1994). Developmental psychopathology: From infancy through adolescence. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, C. L. (1987). Healing the child within: Discovery and recovery for adult children of dysfunctional families. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Youniss, J., & Smollar, J. (1985). Adolescent relations with mother, father, and friends. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my colleague Mustafa Achoui who administered the scales and encoded the data in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Kuwait, and Anna Filus (Poland), Neharika Vohra (India), Martina Casullo (Argentina), Parissa Rezvan Nia (France), Huda Nijm (Jordan), and Lana Shhadi (Arabs in Israel) for their help in translating and administering the questionnaires and encoding the data of their countries.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ora St. 3b, P.O. Box 14710, Nazareth Elit, 17000, Israel

    Marwan Dwairy

Authors
  1. Marwan Dwairy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marwan Dwairy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dwairy, M. Introduction to Special Section on Cross-Cultural Research on Parenting and Psychological Adjustment of Children. J Child Fam Stud 19, 1–7 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-009-9336-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-009-9336-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation