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Parental Overprotection, Cultural Value Conflict, and Psychological Adaptation among Asian Indian Women in America

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Abstract

The present study related generational status, marital status, parental overprotection (control), and cultural value conflict to self-esteem and depression among first and second-generation Asian Indian immigrant women in the south-midwestern United States. Self-report data from 73 community-dwelling women supported the hypotheses that unmarried and second-generation women would report greater maternal control and cultural value conflict than would married and first-generation women. Second-generational status, high maternal control, and high cultural value conflict correlated with higher depressive symptomology; being married, low maternal control, and low cultural value conflict were related to high self-esteem. Regression analyses indicated a mediating role for cultural value conflict for depression symptom predictors, but not for self-esteem predictors. Open-ended response data provided enriched understanding of these women’s cultural and family conflicts.

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Varghese, A., Rae Jenkins, S. Parental Overprotection, Cultural Value Conflict, and Psychological Adaptation among Asian Indian Women in America. Sex Roles 61, 235–251 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9620-x

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