Adolescents In Mainland China Research Articles

Stress Generation and Vulnerability in Adolescents in Mainland China

The current study examined enduring vulnerability factors and depression as predictors of stress generation in Chinese adolescents. Participants included 622 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years in both urban and rural mainland China. Participants completed self-report measures of vulnerability factors and depressive symptoms and participated in interviews that assessed lifetime depression and negative life events over the previous 6 months. In addition, high dependency, self-criticism, neuroticism, and low self-perceived competence were associated with stress generation, independent of the effect of depressive symptoms and lifetime diagnosis of depression. Of note, no gender-by-vulnerability interactions were found in the present sample of youth. The findings suggest that the stress generation process may be generalizable to Chinese youth.

Rumination as a Vulnerability Factor to Depression in Adolescents in Mainland China: Lifetime History of Clinically Significant Depressive Episodes

The current study tested the vulnerability and sex differences hypotheses of the response styles theory of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). Participants included 494 tenth-grade students (M = 15.25 years, SD = 0.47) recruited from two secondary schools in Beijing, China. Participants completed self-report measures assessing rumination and neuroticism as well as a semistructured clinical interview assessing current and past clinically significant depressive episodes. Higher levels of rumination were associated with a greater likelihood of exhibiting both a current depressive episode and a past history of depressive episodes even after controlling for neuroticism. Higher levels of rumination were also associated with greater severity and duration of current depressive episodes and greater severity of past depressive episodes even after controlling for neuroticism. Contrary to the sex differences hypothesis of the response styles theory, girls and boys did not differ in levels of rumination.

Delinquency Among Chinese Adolescents: Modeling Sources of Frustration and Gender Differences

This study explores the relationship between strain and delinquency participation among Chinese adolescents. Using survey reports of over 1,700 middle-school students in Fuzhou, China, the study yielded results consistent with expectations. First, a significant relationship is observed between reports of overall strain and delinquency after controlling for common correlates. Further, adolescents in Fuzhou, China are more likely to engage in delinquency in response to strain over status achievement. Finally, whereas boys are more susceptible to status-related frustration, girls are more responsive to strain over physical well-being. These results are discussed in light of sociocultural expectations pertinent to adolescents in Mainland China.

Adolescents’ Perceptions of Parental Behaviors as Predictors of Adolescent Self–Esteem in Mainland China

Parents’ child–rearing behaviors have been identified as major sources of influence on the self–esteem of adolescents from Western societies and Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. The pattern of relationships found in samples of Hong Kong adolescents has been similar to the pattern found among samples of U.S. adolescents, but contrary to what might be expected in collectivistic societies such as mainland China. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to test specific dimensions of parenting behaviors as possible predictors of adolescents’ self–esteem in mainland China. Self–report data were acquired for this study from 480 adolescents who attended secondary schools located in Beijing. Results indicated that patterns of socialization between parents and adolescents in mainland China were similar to those found in the United States, although explanations for these results may differ from those characteristic of the United States and other Western societies. Reasoning, monitoring, and autonomy–granting behavior by Chinese parents were positive predictors, whereas punitiveness was a negative predictor of Chinese adolescents’ self–esteem (both males and females). Contrasting with patterns commonly found in the United States was the finding that parental support was not a predictor of Chinese adolescents’ self–esteem.

Moral Values Held by Early Adolescents in Taiwan and Mainland China

The purpose of this study is to explore the differences and similarities in values held by early adolescents in Mainland China and Taiwan. Samples of seventh graders (N = 707) were drawn from two cities in Mainland China and as many cities in Taiwan. The instruments for this study included the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) and the Chinese Value Survey (CVS). Many significant differences were found between adolescents in Mainland China and Taiwan, and between boys and girls. Early adolescents in Mainland China tend to prefer values that are related to competence and personal effectiveness. In contrast, their counterparts in Taiwan are more people‐orientated and value interpersonal relationships more. The two groups also emphasise different aspects of collectivism. The subjects in Mainland China prefer more task‐orientated values which aim toward service to society and country. The subjects in Taiwan, on the other hand, focus more on family‐related values. Significant differences between the sexes are also found. Girls demonstrate more concern for relationships than do boys. Similarities in value preferences are also found. Adolescents in both Mainland China and Taiwan show concern for the world, country, family, friends and virtues related to interpersonal relationships. They are also similar in showing little concern for some traditional Chinese values such as reputation and respect for tradition. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature.