Family and social influences on identity conflict in overseas Chinese

Abstract

Emphasis of this research is placed on the construction of a predictive model of identity conflict experienced by overseas Chinese on the basis of two groups of variables—developmental/family related and intergroup-related variables. One hundred and eighty-six Chinese young adults in New Zealand and 263 Chinese young adults in Singapore completed a questionnaire which assessed ethnic identity, family cohesiveness, authoritarian filial piety, quality of host national contact, host language proficiency, perceived social permeability, perceived discrimination and sense of cultural continuity. Results of the current study suggested that intergroup variables were far more powerful and effective than the developmental/family related variables in predicting Chinese young adults’ level of identity conflict during cross-cultural transitions. Specifically, in both cultural settings (i.e., New Zealand and Singapore), contact conditions with host nationals, perceived discrimination, perceived permeability and sense of cultural continuity emerged as significant predictors. Results of the current study further suggested that perceived discrimination contributed most to the overall predictive model of identity conflict.