Cultural variations in relationship provisions: A five-culture study of children's perceptions of support from parents and best friends

Much of the literature on the support provisions of children's relationships has been based on North American sampling. Cultural context has largely been overlooked and may be important in shaping the development of specific support provisions. The present study is a cross-cultural investigation of children's perceptions of the types of support they receive from their mothers, fathers, and best friends. A total of 1101 children in grade 6 from the Southern region of Brazil, Canada, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, and Southern Italy completed the Children's Social Networks Scale. Children were asked to select among lists of items representing different social provisions, those that best described their relationships. A Latent Class Analysis of children's responses yielded cultural differences in item selections. Canadian children tended to perceive their parents as important sources of enhancement of self worth and protection. Cuban children tended to select descriptors of parent support that reflected intimacy and emotional support. Chinese children viewed their parents as important sources of teaching, assistance, and support. Children in Brazil and Italy described their parents as offering various types of support. Findings for friendships were less differentiated across cultures and elicited fewer distinctions among types of support. Findings from the study raise the possibility of important cultural variations in support provisions, which to date remain understudied. These differences in support provisions across cultures may reflect cultural differences in prevailing ideologies and social organizations, particularly distinctions between individualistic and collectivistic orientations.