A Cross-Cultural Study of Mother–Daughter Dyads With European Secondary (Germany, Cyprus) and Asian Elementary Students (Thailand, Taiwan)

• In Event: 26.058 - Global Culture, Diversity, and Educational Understanding

Abstract

This cross-cultural study examines mother-daughter dyads from Asian (N=260) and European (N=472) families. We collected information about the subjects’ perceptions of the same school-related dimensions of parental involvement and its impact on the girls’ achievement. Our findings for the Asian dyads showed that the only parental involvement dimension that affects achievement is the girls’ perceptions of their parents’ expectations. Girls with higher expectations did significantly better. For the European high school girls, only one dimension directly affects achievement – daughters’ perception of parental pressure. High pressure is significantly associated with lower achievement. We also found that the European mothers believe that they are being supportive, but their daughters perceive just the opposite.

Authors

• James R. Campbell, Saint John's University

• Jami Goldstein Scherr, Harborfields Shigh School