Citation

Durà-Vilà G, Hodes M. Ment. Health Relig. Cult. 2017; 20(10): 954-972.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13674676.2017.1402173

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Little is known about cultural variation in perceptions about the age when youngsters should be regarded as competent to make decisions. This is of particular importance as research has shown the significant effect of parental influence on their children's decision-making. A public survey of 400 adults from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds in the UK and Spain was carried out. Their attitudes regarding adolescents' ability with regard to common areas of decision-making were assessed using case vignettes including discontinuing family traditions and religious practice. It was found that White British adults agreed for younger adolescents to make decisions about themselves compared with the other ethnic groups. High religious practice was associated with later age to make decisions. The paper argues that there is socio-cultural variation in adults' attitudes regarding the age when youngsters should make decisions about themselves and for the need of professionals to take this into account.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; Culture; decision-making; parental influence; religion; young people