PAPER #97 - Cross-cultural differences in socialization goals as a function of power distance, individualism-collectivism and education level.

Problem Statement: Studies investigating cross-cultural differences in socialization goals focus mainly on individualism-collectivism as a source of variations. Since this approach raises several issues, we decided to investigate cross-cultural differences in socialization goals also as a function of power distance, given the relationship of this dimension to child socialization. Taking power distance into consideration is also important because it might be associated with cross-cultural variations in the relationship between parental education and socialization goals. Purpose of Study: Our first objective was to investigate cross-cultural differences in socialization goals as a function of power distance and individualism-collectivism. Our second objective was to investigate if power distance moderates the relationship between education and socialization goals. Research Methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 41.017 parents from 42 countries from 5 continents that participated in the sixth wave of World Values Survey. Using Hofstede's cultural dimensions, countries were categorized as a function of their positioning on power distance, respectively individualism-collectivism. Participants answered a question about highest education level and were presented with a list of eleven socialization goals, being requested to mention the five most important socialization goals. Findings: Using a series of chi-square analysis we found the following results: a) parents from individualistic countries mention more frequently socialization goals like independence, responsibility, imagination, tolerance, determination and self-expression and less frequently hard work, thrift, religious faith, unselfishness and obedience then collectivistic parents; b) parents from high power distance countries mention less frequently socialization goals like independence, imagination, tolerance, determination, and self expression and more frequently hard work, responsibility, thrift, religious faith, unselfishness, and obedience. Power distance moderates the relationship between education and the following socialization goals: hard work, responsibility, imagination, unselfishness, obedience, self-expression. Conclusions: Differences in socialization goals between individualistic and collectivistic cultures were relatively small but congruent with prior findings. Power distance is similar to individualism-collectivism in its association with socialization goals, so taking this dimension into consideration might not improve our prediction of socialization goals differences. Power distance moderated relationships between education and certain socialization goals. The implications for the influence of culture on parenting are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]