CHINESE PARENTING STYLES IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between Chinese cultural conceptions of childhood and parenting style. In particular, age of child was hypothesised to be an important factor in determining which style of parenting was used. 50 Singaporean Chinese parents completed the Parenting Scale - Parent's Self Report (PS-PSR) and the Singapore Chinese Values Survey (SCVS). A sub-sample of 20 parents were also interviewed about their views on children and parenting. The results showed that authoritarian and authoritative parenting were both positively correlated with Chinese values on the SCVS. A content analysis of the interview data provided further insight into how culturally influenced beliefs affected parenting. The results suggest that Baurnrind's proposed dimensions of demandingness and responsiveness might not be entirely adequate for understanding Chinese parenting and its outcomes.