Cross-Cultural Differences in Parent-Child Relationship Quality and Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviour

Abstract

Aim The aim of the present study was to examine differences between three countries with dissimilar safety levels in the affective quality of the parent-child relationship and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviour, and the link between these concepts. Method In this study, 262 Icelandic, 299 Dutch and 298 Indian early adolescents participated, with a mean age of 10.9 years old. Items of the Network of Relationship Inventory (NRI) and the Youth Self Report (YSR) were used to measure negative interaction, support, depression and aggression. Rankings on the Global Peace Index (GPI) were used to measure the safety level of a country. Results Significant differences between Icelandic, Indian and Dutch samples were found. Indian adolescents reported more negative interaction with both parents, whereas Icelandic adolescents reported more support. Dutch adolescents reported less aggression and depression. Across all three countries, a significant link between parent-child negative interaction, but not support, and adolescent problem behaviour was found. We did not find a moderating effect of the country in the link between affective quality of the parent-child relationship and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problem behaviour. Conclusion This study shows that cultural differences in parental support and negative interaction and in adolescent aggression and depression exist and that negative interaction is positively linked to adolescent depression and aggression. These results are found in three different countries of dissimilar safety levels, which suggests that the safety level of a country does not influence the link between negative interaction and adolescent problem behaviour.