Within-and between-person and group variance in behavior and beliefs in cross-cultural longitudinal data

Abstract

This study grapples with what it means to be part of a cultural group, from a statistical modeling perspective. The method we present compares within-and between- cultural group variability, in behaviors in families. We demonstrate the method using a cross- cultural study of adolescent development and parenting, involving three biennial waves of longitudinal data from 1296 eight-year-olds and their parents (multiple cultures in nine countries). Family members completed surveys about parental negativity and positivity, child academic and social-emotional adjustment, and attitudes about parenting and adolescent behavior. Variance estimates were computed at the cultural group, person, and within- person level using multilevel models. Of the longitudinally consistent variance, most was within and not between cultural groups—although there was a wide range of between …