Cross-Cultural Studies in Child Development in Asian Contexts

Abstract

Over a number of years, the author has been involved in crosscultural research with Asian and Australian children and adolescents. This article will review some of the work done with and by some of the author's colleagues in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and China. These countries are all multicultural, yet the contributions of these Asian researchers to the role of cultural factors in development are not as well known as they should be. Some reasons for this situation will be discussed. In each of these countries, far-reaching changes now challenge traditional cultural values in family relations and child-rearing practices. The author highlights some of the most significant differences in Asian and Western approaches to child-rearing practices and discusses these in the context of some dominant religious, social, philosophical, and ideological positions.