PARENTING STYLES, ATTRIBUTIONS, AND DISCIPLINE PREFERENCES : A COMPARISON BETWEEN LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE MOTHERS
CARA TAN CHOR YEN
CARA TAN CHOR YEN
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Abstract
The present study investigated the conformity of Chinese mothers to a specifically Chinese style of parenting. It also examined the contributions of attributions and general parenting ideology in predicting mothers' disciplinary responses to child behaviours. Local Chinese and a contrast group of expatriate mothers with children aged 10 and below were administered Chinese child-rearing items involving the concept of "training". They read descriptions of suboptimal behaviours performed by children, and made attributions about the child's responsibility for each act. They also chose the disciplinary style(s) they would adopt to correct such acts. Results showed that the Chinese mothers scored significantly higher on the "training" ideology than the Westerners. They also attributed greater responsibility to the child, and reported greater usage of beating and scolding, relative to the Westerners. The Chinese, however, did not differ from the Westerners in their use of reasoning. Results also indicated that mothers' attribution and their parenting ideology accounted for significant variance in the use of beating among the Westerners and in the use of reasoning among the Chinese. In sum, despite some limitations, these results had important implications for local parenting. Suggestions for future research were raised.
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Date
1998
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