Clinical Insights into Cross-Cultural Parenting Differences

Anthropologists have identified two cultural themes that shape many parenting behaviors and parent–child relationships: autonomy and interdependence. Western cultures often value autonomy, while many Asian, African, and Latin American countries value interdependence. The authors of a Pediatrics Perspectives commentary posit that pediatric clinicians and parents can gain new insights into parenting behaviors by understanding cultural expectations.

The authors provide the following examples of culturally dependent patterns of parenting that may challenge a clinician's recommendations about optimal child rearing. At times of family stress, cultural influences may become more prominent.

Feeding practices: Autonomy-oriented cultures value self-fee…