Article
Do Chinese and American Children’s Interpretations of Parenting Moderate Links between Perceived Parenting and Child Adjustment?
Parenting: Science and Practice
(2012)
Abstract
The researchers in this study investigated whether Chinese and American children’s
interpretations of parents’ coercive authority assertion moderate relations between their self-reported
parenting and adjustment. Associations between child adjustment and parents’ shaming
and critically comparing children to their peers were also investigated. Design. Sixth-, seventhand
eighth-graders (Mages = 11.73, 12.74, and 13.78 years, respectively) residing in Shanghai (n =
150) and Chicago (n = 168) rated possible motivations for coercive authority assertion, indicated
whether they approved of it, and reported their parents’ coercive authority assertion, critical
comparison and shaming, as well as their own depression, antisocial behavior, and school effort.
Results. Children in both cultures indicated that parents practiced coercive authority assertion to
benefit their childrenmore than themselves. Yet approval ratings were low. Approval of coercive
authority assertion and the child-beneficial interpretation moderated relations between parents’
coercive authority assertion and depression in both cultures. For American children, relations
between parents’ coercive authority assertion and both antisocial behavior and school effort
were moderated by a social conventional interpretation. Critical comparison and shaming, and
parents’ coercive authority assertion were associated with poorer adjustment in both cultures.
Conclusions. Chinese and American children believe parents are well-meaning but misguided in
their practice of coercive authority assertion. Children’s approval and interpretations can moderate
parents’ coercive authority assertion’s links to psychosocial and academic functioning.
Critical comparison and shaming is also associated with poorer adjustment in both cultures.
Disciplines
Publication Date
September, 2012
DOI
10.1080/15295192.2012.709154
Citation Information
Linda A. Camras, Keping Sun, Yan Li and Michelle F. Wright. "Do Chinese and American Children’s Interpretations of Parenting Moderate Links between Perceived Parenting and Child Adjustment?" Parenting: Science and Practice Vol. 12 Iss. 4 (2012) p. 306 - 327 ISSN: 1529-5192 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/linda_camras/30/