Assessing Parenting Behaviors in Euro–Canadian and East Asian Immigrant Mothers: Limitations to Observations of Responsiveness

Abstract

The use of parenting measures that are developed for use with Western families without testing their validity among families from non-Western cultural backgrounds may not be appropriate. Similar parenting behaviors may affect child outcomes in different ways across different cultures. This study examined the cross-cultural validity of an observational Maternal Responsiveness coding system and of self-reports of lax/inconsistent parenting in Euro–Canadian (n = 23) and East Asian immigrant mothers (n = 23) of 4- to 7-year-old sons. In Euro–Canadian mothers, observed parenting responsiveness was associated with less lax/inconsistent parenting and fewer child behavior problems. In East Asian immigrant mothers, however, observations of greater responsiveness were not related to reports of lax/inconsistent parenting, and were associated with greater child behavior problems. Implications for the use of these parenting measures across culture groups are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• cross-cultural validity
• East Asian immigrant families
• maternal responsiveness
• observation
• parent–child interaction

The authors thank the families who participated in this study and Mandy Chen, Carla Seipp, Amanda Albert, Irina Grebneva, and Tara Learn for their assistance with coding responsiveness data. This research was supported by a grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada held by the fourth author.

Notes

†Variables used to match participants between cultures; ‡Variable used to select Euro-Canadian participants.

Note. Each Maternal Responsiveness dimension is scored on a scale of 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater responsiveness.

^a A combined standardized score (using the PS Laxness and APQ Inconsistent Discipline subscales).

Note. Correlations with different superscripts are significantly different across the two cultural groups, p < . 10.

*Correlation within each culture is significant, p < .10.

**Correlation within each culture is significant, p < .05.

Note. Correlations with different superscripts are significantly different across the two cultural groups, p < .10.

*Correlation within each culture is significant, p < .10.

**Correlation within each culture is significant, p < .05.