Beyond the Collectivist-Individualist Dichotomy: Parenting Styles and Adolescent Development in South Asian and European Contexts- A Systematic Review

Abstract

Parenting style research often relies on Western theories that may not fully capture parenting in non-Western societies. This review synthesized evidence from 100 studies examining parenting styles and adolescent development across South Asia and Europe. The sample included 31 South Asian studies, 33 European studies, 28 cross-cultural comparisons and 8 meta-analysis/review papers. Ecological and cultural developmental frameworks guided the analysis. These included Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, Kagitcibasi’s family change model, and the parenting model proposed by Darling and Steinberg. Three questions guided the review. First, how do parenting styles appear across these regions? Second, how do they relate to adolescent academic, psychological, and behavioral outcomes? Third, does the evidence challenge the traditional collectivist–individualist framework in cross-cultural psychology. Results showed that parental warmth consistently predicted positive adolescent outcomes in both regions. Warmth, therefore, appears to function as a pancultural protective factor. The effects of parental control varied more strongly across cultural contexts. In South Asian settings, parental authority is often normative and socially expected. Consequently, negative associations with control appeared weaker than those reported in European samples. However, control remained beneficial mainly when combined with warmth and exercised within culturally valued developmental domains.