Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Families, Intergenerationality, and Peer Group Relations pp 435–453Cite as

Cross-Cultural Research on Children’s Well-Being and the Generational Approach

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 5))

Abstract

Only recently has the topic of children’s well-being become of greater interest for Childhood Studies and is now an area awaiting further contributions. Moreover, of late there have been calls within the discipline for a cross-cultural investigation of children’s lives, for a more global approach to childhood. This chapter addresses both topics and, referring to knowledge and debates within these fields, offers frameworks for research.

Drawing on relevant theories, as well as on concrete examples from a cross-cultural ethnography on children’s well-being, theoretical and methodological issues are discussed. It is illustrated how both in research on children’s well-being and in cross-cultural research on children’s lives in general, dualistic approaches – such as particular versus universal or childhood versus childhoods – are limiting. Furthermore, since children’s experiences are directly related to their coexistence with adults, the intergenerational component needs to be part of such research. Sociocultural constructions of childhood (‘what it means to be a child’), for instance, are created mainly in social interaction with adults and influence children’s level of resilience and self-confidence. Especially in cross-cultural research, exploring childhood from a generational perspective can generate valuable insights into the diversity of children’s worlds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • Alanen, L. (2014). Childhood and Intergenerationality: Toward an intergenerational perspective on child well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 131–160). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bartram, D. (2011). Elements of a sociological contribution to happiness studies: Social context, unintended consequences, and discourses. Leicester: Department of Sociology, University of Leicester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Arieh, A., & Frønes, I. (2011). Taxonomy for child well-being indicators: A framework for the analysis of the well-being of children. Childhood, 18(4), 460–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Arieh, A., Casas, F., Frones, I., & Corbin, J. (2014). Multifaceted concept of child well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 1–28). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, D. (2000). An ethic for health promotion: Rethinking the sources of human well-being. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkitt, I. (2008). Social selves: Theories of the social formation of personality. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camfield, L., Crivello, G., & Woodhead, M. (2009). Wellbeing research in developing countries: Reviewing the role of qualitative methods. Social Indicator Research, 90, 5–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F. (2011). Subjective social indicators and child and adolescent well-being. Child Indicators Research, 4, 555–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., DeSouza, A., Wang, L., & Chen, H. (2004). Reticent behavior and experiences in peer interactions in Chinese and Canadian children. Developmental Psychology, 42(4), 656–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., French, D., & Schneider, B. (2006). Culture and peer relationships. In X. Chen, D. French, & B. Schneider (Eds.), Peer relationships in cultural context (pp. 3–20). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, P., & James, A. (2008). Research with children: Perspectives and practices. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, J., & Marcus, G. (1986). Writing culture: The poetics and politics of ethnography. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsaro, W. (2003). We’re friends, right? Inside kids’ culture. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosaro, W. (2011). The sociology of childhood. Los Angeles: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cribari-Assali, C. (2015). A cross-cultural view on well-being: Children’s experiences in the tibetan diaspora in India and in Germany. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Stirling, Stirling.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, B. (2010). Concepts of adversity, risk, vulnerability and resilience: A discussion in the context of the ‘child protection system’. Social Policy & Society, 9(2), 231–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, B., & Wassell, S. (2002). The early years: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children 1. London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Berry, J., & Boyden, J. (2000). Children in adversity. Forced Migration, 9, 33–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWalt, K., & DeWalt, B. (2011). Participant observation: A guide to fieldworkers. Plymouth: AltaMira Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Diener, C. (1995). Cross-cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 653–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Suh, E. (2000). Culture and subjective well-being. Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doek, J. (2014). Child well-being: Children’s rights perspective. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 187–217). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1982). The rules of sociological method. New York: The Free Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1997). Suicide: A study in sociology. Glencoe: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Easterbrook, G. (2004). The progress paradox: How life gets better while people feel worse. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emond, R. (2010). Caring as a moral, practical and powerful endeavour: Peer care in a cambodian orphanage. British Journal of Social Work, 40, 63–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fattore, T., Mason, J., & Watson, E. (2007). Children’s conceptualisation(s) of their well-being. Social Indicators Research, 80, 5–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, B. (1996). Contemporary philosophy of social science: A multicultural approach. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fyfe, A. (2009). Coming to terms with child labor: The historical role of education. In H. Hindman (Ed.), The World of child labor: An historical and regional survey (pp. 49–53). Armonk: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfinkel, H. (1967). Studies in ethnomethodology. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geertz, C. (1984). Distinguished lecture: Anti anti-relativism. American Anthropologist, 86(2), 263–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, M. (1990). He-said-she-said: Talk as social organization among black children. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harden, J. (2012). Good sitting, looking and listening: The regulation of young children’s emotions in the classroom. Children’s Geographies, 10(1), 89–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, J., Galappatti, A., Boyden, J., & Armstrong, M. (2007). Participatory tools for evaluating psychosocial work with children in areas of armed conflict: A pilot study in Eastern Sri Lanka. Intervention, 5(1), 41–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartras, D. (2008). The right to childhoods: Critical perspectives on rights, difference and knowledge in a transient world. London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinton, R. (2000). Seen but not heard: Refugee children and models for intervention. In C. Panter-Brick & M. Smith (Eds.), Abandoned children (pp. 199–212). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, P. (2004). Picturing childhood: The myth of the child in popular imagery. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E., Kimberly, J., Hills, J., Jiang, X., et al. (2014). Schooling and children’s subjective well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 797–819). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Izquierdo, C. (2009). Well-being among the matsigenka of peruvian amazon: health, missions, oil, and “progress”. In G. Mathews & C. Izquierdo (Eds.), Pursuit of happiness: Well-being in anthropological perspective (pp. 23–44). New York: Berghahn Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, A. (2010). Competition or integration? The next step in childhood studies. Childhood, 17(4), 485–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, A., & Prout, A. (1990). Constructing and reconstructing childhood: Contemporary issues in the sociological study of childhood. Basingstoke: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutz, C. (1988). Unnatural emotions: Everyday sentiments on a micronesian atoll and their challenge to Western Theory. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mapp, S. (2010). Global child welfare and well-being. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Markus, H., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, J. (2002). Qualitative interviewing. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, G., & Izquierdo, C. (2009a). Pursuit of happiness: Well-being in anthropological perspective. New York: Berghahn Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, G., & Izquierdo, C. (2009b). Anthropology, happiness and well-being. In G. Mathews & C. Izquierdo (Eds.), Pursuit of happiness: Well-being in anthropological perspective (pp. 1–23). New York: Berghahn Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayall, B. (2001). Understanding childhoods: A london study. In L. Alanen & B. Mayall (Eds.), Conceptualizing child-adult relations (pp. 114–128). London: RoutledgeFalmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayall, B. (2002). Towards a sociology for childhood: Thinking from children´s lives. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayall, B. (2008). Conversations with children: Working with generational issues. In P. Christensen & A. James (Eds.), Research with children: Perspectives and practices (pp. 109–122). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minujin, A., & Nandy, S. (2012). Global child poverty and well-being: Measurement, concepts, policy and actions. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, H. (2009). An Introduction to childhood: Anthropological perspectives on children’s lives. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, V., & Boyden, J. (2014). Ethics of researching children’s well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 2895–2918). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, V., & Mayall, B. (2009). What is wrong with children’s well-being in the UK? Questions of meaning and measurement. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 31(3), 217–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, T. (2002). Promoting resilience: A review of effective strategies for child care services. Exeter: University of Exeter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, N. (2011). What makes a child happy? The link between family income, social networks and subjective well-being in Vietnam. Working paper No. 74. Oxford: Young Lives.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochs, E., & Izquierdo, C. (2009). Responsibility in childhood: Three developmental trajectories. Ethos, 37(4), 391–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papastephanou, M. (2011). Eurocentrism beyond the ‘Universalism vs. Particularism’ dilemma: Habermas and Derrida’s joint plea for a New Europe. History of the Human Sciences, 24(5), 142–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polanyi, M. (1966). The tacit dimension. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punch, S. (2013). Resilience and well-being. In H. Montgomery (Ed.), Local childhoods, global Issues (pp. 205–252). Glasgow: The Policy Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Punch, S. (2016). Cross-world and cross-disciplinary dialogue: A more integrated, global approach to childhood studies. Global Studies of Childhood, 3(6).

    Google Scholar 

  • Punch, S., & Tisdall, K. (2014). Children and young people’s relationships: Learning across majority and minority Worlds. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qvortrup, J. (2014). Sociology: Societal structure, development of childhood, and the well-being of children. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective (pp. 663–708). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Roemer, S. (2008). The Tibetan government-in-exile: Politics at large. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sax, W. (1998). The hall of mirrors: Orientalism, anthropology, and the other. American Anthropologist, 100(2), 292–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smelser, N. (1976). Comparative methods in the social sciences. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spivak, G. (1985). The Rani of Simur. In F. Barker, P. Hulme, M. Iverson, & D. Loxley (Eds.), Europe and its others (pp. 128–151). Colchester: University of Sussex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steingart, G. (2013). Unser Wohlstand und seine Feinde. München: Knaus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, R. (2007). The qualitative longitudinal case history: Practical, methodological and ethical reflections. Social Policy and Society, 6(4), 571–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchida, Y., Norasakkunkit, V., & Kitayama, S. (2004). Cultural constructions of happiness: Theory and empirical evidence. Journal of Happiness Studies, 5(3), 223–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ungar, M. (2005). Introduction: Resilience across cultures and context. In M. Ungar (Ed.), Handbook for working with children and youth: Pathways to resilience across cultures and contexts (pp. xv–xxxix). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Welck, H., & Bernstorff, D. (2004). Exile as a challenge: The Tibetan diaspora. New Delhi: Orient Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. (1949). Objectivity in social science and social policy. In E. Shils & H. Finch (Eds.), Max Weber on the methodology of social sciences (pp. 49–112). New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. (1958). The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. (1991). The nature of social action. In W. Runciman (Ed.), Weber: Selections in translation (pp. 7–32). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeiher, H. (2001). Dependent, independent and interdependent relations: Children as members of the family household in West Berlin. In L. Alanen & B. Mayall (Eds.), Conceptualizing child-adult relations (pp. 37–53). London: RoutledgeFalmer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Social Sciences, Washtenaw Community College, 48105, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Carla Cribari-Assali

Authors
  1. Carla Cribari-Assali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carla Cribari-Assali .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom

    Samantha Punch

  2. The School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Robert M. Vanderbeck

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Cribari-Assali, C. (2018). Cross-Cultural Research on Children’s Well-Being and the Generational Approach. In: Punch, S., Vanderbeck, R. (eds) Families, Intergenerationality, and Peer Group Relations. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 5. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-026-1_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation