Parenting Attitudes of Asian Indian Mothers Living in the United States and in India

Abstract

This study compared the parenting attitudes of Asian Indian mothers living in the United States with those living in India. Fifty seven mothers participated in the study (Living in the United States=23, Living in India=34). The parenting attitudes of the mothers were measured using the Adolescent-Adult Parenting Inventory (AAPI, Bavolek, 1984). The AAPI has four subscales: (a) Reversing Parent-Child Family Roles, (b) Lack of Empathic Awareness of Children's Needs, (c) Inappropriate Developmental Expectations of Children, and (d) Strong Parental Beliefs in the Use of Corporal Punishment. A one-way (2: country of domicile) ANOVA showed significant differences in the mothers' attitudes about inappropriate expectations for their children {F(1,55)=10.24, p h 0.002}, the use of corporal punishment {F(1,55)=6.423, p h 0.007}, and role reversal {F(1,55)=4.63, p h 0.03}. Post hoc analysis indicated that the Asian Indian mothers living in the United States had lower inappropriate expectations and tended not to reverse roles with their children. The results also showed that the Asian Indian mothers living in India favored the use of corporal punishment more than their counterparts in the U.S.