Intergenerational Transmission of Collectivism and Achievement Values in Two Acculturation Contexts

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Abstract
This study examines the impact of parental goals and acculturation contexts on value transmission in immigrant families. Combining cross-national and cross-ethnic comparisons, 400 Turkish parent-child dyads in Germany and 190 Turkish and Moroccan dyads in the Netherlands were asked to report their commitment to family-based collectivism and individualism, their academic aspirations, as well as conformity, autonomy, and achievement goal stresses in their family. First, value transmission was selective. Across cultures, parental collectivism values were transmitted, but not individualism. Only in Germany, parental aspirations were also transmitted. Second, value transmission was mediated by parental goals. Across cultures, more collectivistic parents stressed conformity more, thereby enhancing effective transmission. Third, transmission was significant after controlling for gender and educational status of parents and youngsters. Finally, our transmission model was replicated across acculturation contexts and acculturating groups. But transmission was more intense in Germany than in the Netherlands, and in Turkish than in Moroccan families.