Perceived parental psychological control and behavioral control among emerging adults: A cross-cultural study between the U.S. and Taiwan

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the cultural differences between the U.S. and Taiwan in the structures and levels of parental psychological and behavioral control, and the association between the two among emerging adults. Using data from the U.S. (Asian American N = 164) and from Taiwan (N = 156), we found the association between psychological control and behavioral control was not significant in the U.S. but positive in Taiwan for both maternal and paternal control. In addition, compared to the U.S. students, Taiwanese students perceived a higher level of personal attack from mother and a higher level of invalidating feeling from father than the U.S. sample, whereas the U.S. sample reported higher levels of perceived guilt induction and behavioral control from both mother and father than did their Taiwanese counterparts. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the role of culture in studies on parental control.