Theories of parenting and child development in different cultural contexts

This article highlights theories stemming from the fields of developmental science and human development and family studies regarding parenting and children’s development in different cultural contexts. Attachment theory, interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory, and domain-specific models of parents’ socialization of children are considered as ways of understanding parenting and child development in different cultural contexts. These theories account for similarities across cultures that may stem from the universal needs children have for physical, socioemotional, and cognitive caregiving; for example, children have a fundamental need to be loved and accepted by their parents or other primary caregivers. These theories also explain why mean levels of parents’ beliefs or behaviors or different aspects of child development may differ across cultures and why parenting may relate differently to child development across cultures. The article concludes by describing directions for future theories and research to advance understanding of parenting and children’s development in different cultural contexts.

Duke Scholars

Author Jennifer Lansford Sanford School of Public Policy