Are there universal parenting concepts among culturally diverse families in an inner-city pediatric clinic?

Introduction: Cultural competence is necessary in providing care to culturally diverse families. Numerous studies have emphasized similarities and differences between predetermined cultural groups, yet few have studied groups across cultures. This project aimed to investigate parenting concepts, which in this context pertains to philosophy of parenting and child care practices across cultures. Method: Using a grounded theory approach, ethnographic interviews of 46 families representing 27 countries were taped, transcribed, and analyzed. Results: Similarities in parenting concepts were found among families. Teaching values and respect and the need for strict discipline were important. A sense of community, family, and spirituality/religion was strong. Television was viewed as educational and parents anticipated opportunities for jobs and higher education for their children. Parents were more inclined to use medical treatments than home remedies for acute illnesses, which may have been linked to the finding that their providers had a strong influence. Parents feared children playing alone outdoors; distrusted nonfamily babysitters; and felt conflicted between a desire for cultural preservation versus assimilation. Discussion: Universal concepts in parenting philosophies and practices exist among culturally diverse families. Providers may approach anticipatory guidance by addressing global parental concerns that transcend culture in order to relieve time constraints and the overwhelming task of being knowledgeable about all cultures.