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'No, you should not beat our child because he will become aggressive:' Applying a multi-method approach to explore intergenerational transmission of parenting practices

Chandra Sekaran V 1 , Bailey A 2 , Kamath VG 3 , Ashok L 4 , Ravindran SK 5 , Kamath A 6 Show all authors , Hegde A 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 2 Transdisciplinary Centre for Qualitative Methods, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 3 Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College (Manipal), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 4 Department of Global Health, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 5 Department of Clinical Psychology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 6 Department of Data Science, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 7 Department of Paediatrics, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
PLoS One, 2021;16(10):e0258306.
PMID: 34618867 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258306

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exploring the cultural context of intergenerational continuity of warm and harsh parenting informs parents motivations to adopt specific parenting behaviours.

OBJECTIVE: Parents' perceptions of being parented in the past and their current parenting as well as adolescents' perceptions of current parenting were explored applying a multi-method approach.

METHODS: Following written informed consent, a total of 24 interviews with 10 families (dyads of 14 parents and ten adolescents) from Udupi taluk in southern India was conducted. In the first stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with parent participants (Generation 1 (G1)) and in the second stage, adolescents (Generation 2 (G2)) participated in the photovoice component. Multiple forms of data including photographs, journals and interviews facilitated using the SHOWeD model were collected and were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti(v.8).

RESULTS: Subtle changes in reinforcing culture-specific gender norms between generations were elicited. Differences in communication, granting autonomy to female adolescents, and in disciplining methods between G1 and G2 were observed. Warm parenting was transmitted between generations while harsh parenting in G1 in the presence of external social support was discarded in favor of warm parenting in G2.

CONCLUSION: We provide evidence for perceptions of parenting and adolescent behaviors across two generations. Transmission of warm parenting and interruption in the cycle of harsh parenting in the presence of external social support were significant findings. Related theoretical and methodological applications are discussed.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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