Pancultural Factors of Parental Behavior in Sicily and the United States

Child-rearing practices of Sicilian and American parents were studied by means of an interview. Pancultural factors were sought by analyzing data for mothers and fathers separately in each of the 2 societies. Analyses involving large numbers of factors did not yield the invariant structures sought in the present analysis and implicitly claimed in previous research. A descriptive system involving only 2 dimensions, however, provided close sturctural invariance and a high degree of transcultural generality. The 2 factors were identified as Affection and Control. Socialization practices of Sicilian and American parents were then compared in reference to these dimensions as well as the elemental variables composing the factors. Few if any differences appeared in Parental Affection, but striking differences were found in Parental Control. Sicilian parents are much more strict than their American counterparts. Detailed comparison of elemental variables showed the differential controls to be exercised mainly in regard to sexual and aggressive behavior. Some implications of the findings are discussed.