Identifying Cultural Pathways of Parent–Child Attachment Development
Keywords:
Parent–child attachment, cultural pathways, cross-cultural parenting, migration, emotional bondingAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore and identify the cultural pathways that shape the development of parent–child attachment among families from diverse cultural backgrounds living in Canada.
Methods and Materials: The research adopted a qualitative, phenomenological design to capture parents’ lived experiences of attachment formation within multicultural contexts. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 23 participants (13 mothers and 10 fathers) representing South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern, European, and Indigenous cultural groups. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Each interview lasted between 60 and 90 minutes and focused on parental beliefs, emotional expression, cultural transmission, and adaptation to Canadian norms. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework.
Findings: Analysis revealed three main themes—Cultural Interpretations of Emotional Bonding, Migration and Cultural Adaptation in Parenting, and Pathways of Attachment Formation. These themes encompassed 17 subthemes that described how cultural values, intergenerational beliefs, and migration experiences influence emotional expression and attachment behaviors. The findings showed that while traditional collectivist cultures emphasized caregiving through protection, respect, and shared rituals, integration into Canadian society encouraged more open emotional communication and autonomy-promoting parenting.
Conclusion: The study concludes that parent–child attachment development among Canadian families is a culturally dynamic process influenced by enculturation, migration, and social adaptation. Recognizing multiple cultural pathways of attachment can enhance culturally sensitive family interventions, parenting education, and cross-cultural counseling practices.
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