Parenting dimensions in migrant and Spanish families. Self-determination theory and positive parenting

Abstract

In keeping with the principles of positive parenting, understood as parental actions based on the best interests of children and aimed at their overall development, self-determination theory (SDT) posits that it is the family that must satisfy three basic psychological needs: autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Owing to migratory movement, the wide range of cultures present in Spain, and the fact that the family is the preferred place to experience human relationships, this context seems to be an ideal setting for testing the apparent universality of SDT. Hence, the main objective of this study was to examine the parenting dimensions: autonomy (autonomy support vs psychological control), relatedness (warmth vs rejection), and competence (structure vs chaos) and their influence on children’s behaviors in families from a wide range of international backgrounds. The sample comprised a total of 3428 parents and 1785 children attending primary education (7-13 years old) in eight autonomous communitie in Spain. Information was collected using three standardized questionnaires, adapted and validated for the Spanish context. The results show that, regardless of family origin, there were higher scores in positive parenting dimensions (autonomy support, warmth, and structure) than negative dimensions (psychological control, rejection and chaos). The findings also indicate that warmth had a positive effect on children’s behaviors while psychological control had a negative effect, as well as that there were some differences between certain geographical zones in warmth, structure, and chaos. Our study provides confirmation of the universality of the precepts of SDT and positive parenting in families from a wide range of geographical and cultural backgrounds in the Spanish context.

Keywords

• family
• migration
• self-determination theory
• positive parenting
• family education
• parental education