Differences and similarities in child rearing practices among Chinese, immigrant Chinese, and Caucasian American parents were investigated. Subjects were mothers and fathers of 138 kindergarteners and first and second graders in Taiwan and the U.S. The child rearing variables of parental control, encouragement of independence, expression of affection, and emphasis on achievement were studied. MANOVA yielded a significant group effect on parental variables. Chinese and immigrant Chinese parents tended to have higher ratings than Caucasian American parents on parental control and emphasis on achievement. However, both groups of Chinese parents had higher ratings on encouragement of independence than did Caucasian American parents, with the ratings of the fathers of Chinese origin higher than those of their Caucasian American counterparts. Results suggest that patterns of child rearing are undergoing a change among parents of Chinese origin in this sample. Four figures and one table are included. (RH)
