Cross-National Generalizability of Dimensions of Perceived Parental Rearing Practices: Hungary and the Netherlands; A Correction and Repetition with Healthy Adolescents

Abstract

In a previous study, an attempt was undertaken to examine whether dimensions of parental rearing style as measured with the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU) on dimensions of Rejection, Emotional Warmth, Overprotection, and Favoring Subject can be generalized from Dutch adult samples, for whom they were originally interpreted from factor analyses, to an Hungarian adult sample. The findings suggested either differences in the meaning of the constructs between Hungarians and the Dutch or the presence of errors of translation in the Hungarian version. To rule out the possibility of inadequate translation, the Hungarian item-content was cross-checked by our Hungarian coworkers and, after reformulating several items, used for obtaining new data with a sample of adolescents. On the whole, negative findings with the old version disappeared with the new; clear evidence was found here for qualitative similarity/identity of the Rejection, Emotional Warmth, and Overprotection dimensions across the Dutch and Hungarian samples. Further studies with Hungarian persons are needed to examine whether these dimensions generalize from (nonpatient) adolescent to adult samples.