A Cross-Cultural Study of Paternal Behavior as Assessed by Contemporary Youth

Abstract

Cultural values are formed at different levels, including the influence of family, friends, and various institutions. The cultural norms of behavior and the perception of what is socially desirable or undesirable largely determine parental behavior, as well as the quality of children’s socialization and the values instilled in them. The purpose of this study was to conduct a cross-cultural comparative assessment of ideas about paternal care among young people from 16 countries with different cultural conditions and religious beliefs, and to identify factors associated with paternal behavior. The total sample was 10009 people from 4 European countries (Belarus, Bulgaria, Greece, Russia), 11 Asian (India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey), 1 African (Tanzania). The results of the study are focused on the influence of cultural factors (country of residence and religion) on paternal behavior. Students from Malaysia, Greece, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia rated their fathers’ contribution to the upbringing and development of their children the highest, while respondents from Belarus, Russia, Bulgaria, and Indonesia thought fathers cared the least about their children. Religion was the most important factor – more religious respondents indicated that fathers were more involved in the upbringing and development of their children than atheists. The results are discussed in a cross-cultural perspective and taking into account socioeconomic factors.