Adaptive Behaviors in Young Children: A Unique Cultural Comparison in Italy

Abstract

On account of a series of unique historical events, the present-day denizens of South Tyrol inhabit a cultural, political, and linguistic autonomous region that intercalates Italians and Austrian/ German Italians. The authors compared contemporary Italian and Austrian/German Italian girls’ and boys’ adaptive behaviors in everyday activities in this region. Using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, the authors first interviewed mothers about their children’s communication, daily living, socialization, and motor skills. Main effects of local culture (and no interactions with gender) emerged: Austrian/German Italian children were rated higher than Italian children in both adaptive daily living and socialization skills. Next, the authors explored ethnic differences in childrearing. Austrian/German Italians reported fostering greater autonomy in their children than Italians, and children’s autonomy was associated with their adaptive behavior. Children living in neighboring Italian and Austrian/German Italian cultural niches appear to experience subtle but consequentially different conditions of development that express themselves in terms of differing levels of adaptive behaviors.