Parenting in Global Perspective: Progress and Prospects

Abstract

A variety of advances in our understanding of the processes of adaptation in immigrant families around the globe are identified. The range of sending and receiving countries has greatly expanded which increases the generalizability of our findings. The issue of the match/mismatch between the country of origin and the host country and its implications for family adjustment is noted. Our understanding of acculturation as a multidimensional family and community level construct is highlighted as well as our increasing appreciation of the diversity of immigrant groups not only in terms of country of origin but in terms of religious and ethnic identities as well as gender orientation. The importance of balancing a recognition of universal as well as culture-bound aspects of immigration processes is noted. The value of employing a broad range of methods, including observational and survey approaches and neurological and hormonal assessments, is emphasized. The need to better connect research and policy in this area is advocated.