Relations of Collectivism Socialization Goals and Training Beliefs to Chinese Parenting

Abstract

Parenting behaviors may be influenced by multiple factors, including parental values, beliefs, socialization goals, and children’s characteristics (e.g., personality, age). This study examined relations between Chinese mothers’ collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs and their parenting styles and behaviors with their children (youth ages 9-17 years), using structural equation modeling (SEM). In addition, in an exploratory manner, the associations between youth’s age and mothers’ parenting styles and behaviors were also explored. In all, 652 youth (female 46.2% and male 52.9%) and their mothers were recruited from urban areas in mainland China. Youth answered questionnaires about their mothers’ parenting (i.e., parenting styles, behavioral control, and psychological control), and mothers reported their endorsement of collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs. The findings suggest that Chinese mothers’ endorsement of collectivism socialization goals was positively associated with their authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles and behavioral control, but negatively associated with psychological control. Chinese mothers’ “training” beliefs were negatively associated with the use of behavioral control. Youth age was negatively associated with Chinese mothers’ use of authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles and behavioral control. Therefore, the current study suggests that mothers’ collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs and youth age may have an impact on parenting styles and parenting behaviors in mainland Chinese mothers.