Assessing the cross-cultural validity of a parental autonomy granting measure: Comparing adolescents in the U.S., China, Mexico and India

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Andrew "Andy" Supple, Associate Professor (Creator)
Sharon R. Ghazarian (Contributor)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: This study investigates the cross-cultural validity of a 10-item parental autonomy granting measure with samples of adolescents from the United States, China, Mexico, and India. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis suggested a moderately high degree of cross-cultural equivalence, particularly for the United States and China. Invariance in item loadings was found across samples, with the exception of items assessing freedom regarding career choices and encouragement to participate in family decisions. Correlations between autonomy granting and three criterion factors suggested that, across cultures, parental autonomy granting is associated with higher perceptions of parental support and greater effort exerted in school. Correlations varied in reference to associations between parental autonomy granting and reports of love withdrawal from mothers and fathers. Results also suggested that mean levels of autonomy granting from parents were highest in the U.S. sample and lowest in China. Results provide support for the universality of autonomy granting as a salient aspect of parent-ing across cultures but also point to areas where significant cultural differences exist.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 5, 816-833
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
parent-adolescent relationships, autonomy development, parenting, cross-cultural validity

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