Why Are Chinese Mothers More Controlling Than American Mothers? “My Child Is My Report Card”

Chinese parents exert more control over children than do A merican parents. The current research examined whether this is due in part to C hinese parents' feelings of worth being more contingent on children's performance. Twice over a year, 215 mothers and children ( M age = 12.86 years) in C hina and the U nited S tates ( E uropean and A frican A merican) reported on psychologically controlling parenting. Mothers also indicated the extent to which their worth is contingent on children's performance. Psychologically controlling parenting was higher among C hinese than A merican mothers, particularly E uropean (vs. A frican) A merican mothers. C hinese (vs. A merican) mothers' feelings of worth were more contingent on children's performance, with this contributing to their heightened psychological control relative to A merican mothers.