Adolescents’ family values, support for parents, and family future orientation in cross-cultural perspective

Abstract

This study analyzes relations between adolescents’ family values (autonomy and/or relatedness), their readiness to support parents, and personal family planning across 10 countries. The data have been collected as part of the international “Value of Children and Intergenerational Relations”-project. The theoretical background bases on Kagitcibasi’s theory of family change. In a previous study using the same dataset, adolescents’ family model value patterns (person-oriented approach) of independence, autonomy/relatedness, and interdependence were identified. Overall, N = 2566 adolescents (57% female, age 13-20 years) from China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland, and Turkey participated in the study. Results showed that both culture and family value patterns strongly predicted adolescents’ readiness to support their parents (in an everyday situation scenario). Additionally, to a lesser extent, culture and family value patterns predicted adolescents’ intention to have their own family in the future. Results are discussed from a culture-informed perspective of adolescent development.