Chinese Family Values Research Articles

Modeling children’s moral development in postwar Taiwan through naturalistic observations preserved in historical texts

A core issue in the interdisciplinary study of human morality is its ontogeny in diverse cultures, but systematic, naturalistic data in specific cultural contexts are rare to find. This study conducts a novel analysis of 213 children’s socio-moral behavior in a historical, non-Western, rural setting, based on a unique dataset of naturalistic observations from the first field research on Han Chinese children. Using multilevel multinomial modeling, we examined a range of proactive behaviors in 0-to-12-year-old children’s peer cooperation and conflict in an entire community in postwar Taiwan. We modeled the effects of age, sex, kinship, and behavioral roles, and revealed complex interactions between these four variables in shaping children’s moral development. We discovered linkages between coercive and non-coercive behaviors as children strategically negotiated leadership dynamics. We identified connections between prosocial and aggressive behaviors, illuminating the nuances of morality in real life. Our analysis also revealed gendered patterns and age-related trends that deviated from cultural norms and contradicted popular assumptions about Chinese family values. These findings highlight the importance of naturalistic observations in cultural contexts for understanding how we become moral persons. This re-analysis of historically significant fieldnotes also enriches the interdisciplinary study of child development across societies.

Chinese Traditional Family Values Impact on Chinese University Students' Educational Performance

This paper explores the intricate relationship between Chinese traditional family values and the educational performance of Chinese university students. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, the study delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving role of these values in contemporary education. The findings highlight the multifaceted impact of family values on students' academic achievements, character development, and overall success in higher education. This study delves into the influence of traditional Chinese family values on the educational performance of university students. The study draws from the experiences of students, parents, counselors, and administrators. The findings provide insights into the complex interplay between familial values and educational attainment within a university context.

Non-disclosed men who have sex with men within local MSM HIV-1 genetic transmission networks in Guangyuan, China.

BackgroundMost men who have sex with men (MSM), especially those with HIV infection, do not disclose their same-sex behaviors in China due to Chinese family values and fear of stigmatization, rejection, or prejudice. However, disclosure of same-sex behaviors to healthcare providers (HCPs) can be beneficial for reducing viral transmission and promoting their physical and mental health. In this study, by combining phylogenetic analysis with traditional epidemiological approaches, we tried to identify the MSM who do not disclose to HCPs in transmission networks and explored the factors related to the non-disclosed behaviors.MethodPhylogenetic analysis was conducted using HIV pol sequences obtained from the drug-resistant surveillance program, which was collected as part of routine clinical care since 2012. Sequences were linked to the demographic data collected in the Chinese HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System (CRIMS). First, male patients in whom genetic sequences were within the molecular transmission clusters involving self-reported MSM were identified as potential MSM (pMSM). Then, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to supplement behavioral information and attitudes toward MSM.ResultsOur sample consisted of 190 pMSM patients. In total, 43.16% of the patients were likely to conceal same-sex behaviors during the first-self-report, and 14.73% of patients might continue to conceal a history of same-sex behaviors even after receiving medical care. The pMSM who concealed their same-sex behaviors were reluctant to accept medical services such as Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and had a lower likelihood of condom use. In addition, the related factors for non-disclosed behavior were associated with current address, income before diagnosis, and attitudes toward MSM.ConclusionNon-disclosure of same-sex behaviors to HCPs may be a major obstacle for certain medical services for MSM who exhibit risky sexual behaviors. The pMSM from developing areas, with high monthly income, and with neutral or un-supportive attitudes toward MSM may represent non-disclosure of their same-sex behaviors. Thus, policies facilitating MSM to disclose their same-sex behaviors are recommended, such as legislations protecting homosexual rights on employment, education, marriage, and so on.

Staging Repentance: A Discourse Analysis of Mediated Confession in Xi Jinping's First Five-Year Term

Since Xi Jinping took office as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, he has been tightening ideological control across many fronts. This article investigates how the framing of televised confessions facilitates Xi's rule. Originating from the intra-Party disciplinary technique of self-criticism, the recent resurgence of mediated confessions reflects Xi's pursued strategy in tackling social and political challenges. Applying critical discourse analysis to the case of the disappeared Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, this paper shows the way in which the framing of Gui's televised confession follows Xi's so-called rule of law agenda and selectively appeals to traditional Chinese family values. The paper argues that the propaganda value of the televised confession from a little-known, non-Party confessant lies in its banality, which blends into the Party's everyday narration. The resurgence of confessions might suggest a regression towards Maoist-style campaigns, but more audience-oriented research is needed to address this issue fully.

Maintaining "mianzi" and "lizi": Understanding the reasons for formality marriages between gay men and lesbians in China.

As a result of societal expectations and to avoid societal homophobia, many lesbians and gay men in China marry heterosexual partners and do not disclose their own sexual orientation. This study used qualitative methods to explore why gay men enter into such marriages of convenience. A total of 17 in-depth interviews were conducted with lesbians and gay men who had entered "formality marriages." All interviews were digitally recorded for transcription; transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory to determine themes. The reasons for engaging in formality marriage can be grouped into broad categories, including: maintaining mianzi (reputation) and lizi (inner reality), avoiding moral distress, social discrimination, working in tizhi (social systems), accounting for their social relationships, and fulfilling filial piety. From our model we can see growing up as a member of a minority sexual orientation group means being discriminated against and marginalized in the family, work place, community, and society at large. Formality marriages not only offer a way to maintain one's personal and family reputation ( mianzi) in different contexts, but also avoid moral distress and maintain a personal private sexual orientation ( lizi) with their own homosexual partner. Formality marriage serves as a compromise to ensure cultural continuity, and it harmonizes individuals' interpersonal relationships and traditional Chinese family values. Understanding the reasons for formality marriage practices can help health professionals to create public health campaigns to dispel stereotypes and stigma about homosexuality, and to develop culturally sensitive services for homosexual populations.

Determinants of Housing Purchase Decision: An Empirical Study of the High Education Cohort in Urban China

This research attempts to examine the issue of housing purchase decisions in urban China based on an online questionnaire survey. Unlike the previous research mainly concentrating on tenure choice, specific selection of a house, etc., this study focuses on the starting stage of a consumption decision, which identifies the demand. The analysis shows that the housing purchase decision is highly related to consumers′ social-economic conditions, with ″fixed income″, ″for children′s education″, ″solid credit″, ″a forthcoming child″, ″getting married″ ranking as the top five important factors.The study further investigates the specific impact of the explanatory factors on the upgrading of house owning states. With the great change of socio-economic conditions and especially for the highly educated group in Chengdu, traditional Chinese family values such as living with immediate family have a significantly different impact on the decision-making process for 1st and 2nd time homebuyers. This study provides some new observations for the specific target of the high education cohort which has gained more and more attention recently in the knowledge economy, such as that they prefer independence when buying their 1st house while seeking family gathering for their 2nd house. This helps deepen the authors′ understanding of the homeownership status and will have a practical significance for policymakers and practitioners.

Forum theatre by ex-gambling addicts – the Chinese family

This paper outlines a forum theatre project with recovering gambling addicts and their family members who were themselves the actors and actresses, devising and rehearsals facilitated by artists from an educational and theatre organisation. The addicts and family members came from a local counselling service centre. The researcher in this project was interested in how empowering theatre with forum sessions could be on the recovering addicts, family and student audiences from secondary schools. During the search, the devising and performance sessions were observed, and actors and audience members were interviewed. We found that both actors and audience expressed strong feelings that reflected their understanding and formation of personal and social identities, which were very much influenced by Chinese family values.

The Cinematic Depiction of Conflict Resolution in the Immigrant Chinese Family: The Wedding Banquet and Saving Face

Both emphasising dilemmas that have been confronted by the Chinese-American family, Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet (1993) and Alice Wu’s Saving Face (2004) highlight the image of homosexuality as incompatible with traditional Chinese family values. Through detailed narrative analyses of these two films with a focus on the structure of the plot, the key characters, and camera work, this article aims to answer the questions of how traditional Chinese culture continues to play into and conflict with the experiences of modern Chinese American families and how each film presents and resolves the tensions arising from a culture in transition. The article argues that the importance of studying the ways in which the protagonists try to come to terms with incompatible value systems, lies in the capacity of film to reveal the complex negotiation between tradition and modernity, as well as the socio-cultural specificity of the conceptions of modernity.

The Cinematic Depiction of Conflict Resolution in the Immigrant Chinese Family

Both emphasising dilemmas that have been confronted by the Chinese- American family, Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet (1993) and Alice Wu’s Saving Face (2004) highlight the image of homosexuality as incompatible with traditional Chinese family values. Through detailed narrative analyses of these two films with a focus on the structure of the plot, the key characters, and camera work, this article aims to answer the questions of how traditional Chinese culture continues to play into and conflict with the experiences of modern Chinese American families and how each film presents and resolves the tensions arising from a culture in transition. The article argues that the importance of studying the ways in which the protagonists try to come to terms with incompatible value systems, lies in the capacity of film to reveal the complex negotiation between tradition and modernity, as well as the socio-cultural specificity of the conceptions of modernity.

Re-Engagement and Negotiation in a Changing Political and Economic Context: Social Work in Hong Kong

This paper provides a commentary and analysis on the half-century development of social work in Hong Kong, from its origins in the twin roots of Christian ideology accompanying British colonialism and Chinese family values, the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the Asian financial crisis and subsequent economic recession and major cuts in government funding for social welfare. We pointed out that the government had tried to co-opt social work for ideological ends. This aim was not achieved in the 1980s, but the government has succeeded in doing so by imposing the new financial control on the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) after 1997. We argue that the four major political challenges ahead for social workers in Hong Kong relate to social integration, urban maladies, social justice and indigenisation. We propose that a process of re-politicisation of social work by both agencies and practitioners, seeking to reclaim social workers' political and professional role, is necessary in order to ensure a more equitable distribution of community resources in Hong Kong to ensure that all citizens share in its prosperity.

‘English leaflets are not meant for me’: a qualitative approach to explore oral health literacy in Chinese mothers in Southwestern Sydney, Australia

The aim of this study was to record the views of Chinese mothers living in southwestern Sydney on the value of commonly used dental health education materials that gave behavioural advice on looking after the oral health of young children. This qualitative study was nested within a large cohort study in south-western Sydney. Chinese-speaking mothers (n=27) with young children were approached for a face-to-face, semi-structured interview at their home. Two dental leaflets in English that gave behavioural advice on monitoring young children's oral health were sent to each mother prior to interview. On the day of the interview, mothers were also given translated versions of the leaflets for comparison. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed by thematic coding. Mothers reported that the leaflets were not tailored to match the different levels of English literacy within the Chinese community, and participants favoured health information material written in their first language with the use of illustrations. However, translations had to take account of the Chinese culture, as some of the advice in the leaflets presented did not reflect Chinese family values. Mothers also felt that the information should be more specific to provide a better understanding of the rationale for changing or implementing a different behaviour. Dental health information literature for Chinese people should not be translated directly from those intended for an English-speaking audience, but should reflect Chinese culture-specific advice such as examples of the type and amount of foods to be given during early years of life. Supportive illustrations were also preferred.

Association between cultural factors and the caregiving burden for Chinese spousal caregivers of frail elderly in Hong Kong

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between cultural factors and the caregiving burden of Chinese spousal caregivers who provided care to their frail partners. Method: A sample consisting of 102 Chinese caregivers for frail elderly spouses was recruited from home care services across various districts in Hong Kong. Structured interviews were conducted with the participants in their homes, measuring demographics, the functional status of the spouse, the degree of assistance required in daily care, perceived health, the caregiver's orientation to traditional Chinese family values, social support, coping, and caregiver burden. Results: Findings of regression analysis indicated that gender, activities of daily living (ADL) status, orientation to traditional Chinese family values, passive coping, and marital satisfaction associated with caregiver burden. Being female, having lower functioning in ADL or a strong orientation toward traditional Chinese family values, employing the strategies of passive coping more frequent, or experiencing a low degree of marital satisfaction were associated with high levels of caregiver burden. Conclusion: These findings provided a basis for developing appropriate interventions to minimize the caregiver burden of spousal family caregivers.

Co-sleeping and children's sleep in China

Sleeping in the same bed as their parents is very common in young Chinese children, being present in up to 79% of pre-school children and 53% of school-aged children. It is socially acceptable to Chinese parents as a natural part of the child-rearing process. Chinese family values and a cultural value system emphasizing family bonds and interpersonal interdependence seem to act as positive reinforcing factors for this practice of co-sleeping. Studies of Chinese children's sleep have focused primarily on some key aspects of sleep behaviors, for example, sleep duration and sleep need, children's use of sleep aids, and sleep related-diseases, with few studies on the effects of co-sleeping. There are both advantages and disadvantages of co-sleeping. This review presents the cultural aspects of co-sleeping in China, and provides a basis for pediatricians' understanding of this practice in order to promote more attention to this familiar but controversial behavior.

Imagining Social Work: A Qualitative Study of Students' Perspectives on Social Work in China

Social work education in China has expanded rapidly since it was reintroduced in 1988. This has led to a growing body of English language literature on the development of social work education in China. However, thus far, this literature lacks an empirical foundation and little research on students' perspectives has been done. To fill this gap, this paper reports on a qualitative study of a group of graduating social work students (n = 32) from four social work programmes in Jinan, the provincial capital of the Shandong Province. Three major findings are reported. Firstly, the students liken their social work learning experience to a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. Secondly, the cultural compatibility of western social work in China has not yet been conclusively established, while an ‘indigenized’ social work needs to be compatible with Chinese family values, referred to as ‘familism’ in direct Chinese to English translation, and with the dominant socialist political ideology. Thirdly, the future of social work is bright given increasing government support for its development.

Telling Stories, Saving Families: Media's Concern with Modernization as a Challenge to Traditional Chinese Family Values

Telling Stories, Saving Families: Media's Concern with Modernization as a Challenge to Traditional Chinese Family Values

Youth and Family: Intergenerational Tensions and Transfers

This special issue comprises seven research papers discussing the intergenerational relations between youth and their families (or parents). The papers, which cover the onset of the teen years to young adulthood, present issues such as intergenerational transmission, conflict and interactions patterns between generations, and structural and cultural variations of youth decisions. all papers are based on empirical data of large sample sizes, and quantitative analysis is the common method used to delineate the intergenerational interaction pattern among youth families. Policy implications are also discussed, with relevant research findings to substantiate the stated proposals.This special issue is notable in at least three important aspects:1 Geographical RepresentationThe majority of papers in this issue focus not on North American youth studies, which are often overemphasized, but on European societies, including France, Germany, Italy, and England. The only paper here to focus on American teenagers compares black and white samples. The other two papers are from Taiwan, with one aiming at the intergenerational transmission of Chinese family values, and the other emphasizing contemporary family resolution patterns.2. Focus on Early Teen Years to Young AdulthoodSurvey samples constitute the major target of the analyses. Youth - in their early teens at ages 11 to 15 as well as their subsequent development at ages 16 to 19 - are the common concern of the first four papers. Young adults, especially in their 20s, face similar social expectation of leaving the parental home. This is especially significant in societies such as those of Italy, France, and Germany. Through their respective investigations, the authors came to believe this topic is to be placed in the context of autonomy versus dependency among young adults in their respective societies.3. Family as the Context for Intergenerational Transfers and TensionsThe family is the locus of study in this special issue. All seven papers examine the possible family transfer across generations. Particular attention is placed upon the transmission of parental values and teenagers' performance or decisions in relation to the family background and resources. The process and ideology behind the decision to leave parental homes are also studied, with a special emphasis on the potential influence of parental attitudes and of family-related effects.Highlights and significance of the individual research topics and Findings:Using interview data of 2,750 paired samples of 9th graders and one parent in northern Taiwan, Yi and her colleagues explore possible intergenerational value transmission from parents to children. Childrearing values are used to test the expected relationship. The results confirm that value transmission from a parent's generation to a child's generation is likely to occur in Taiwan. However, parental work experience, whose influence is strongly documented in Western studies, does not seem to be as important among Taiwanese samples. Instead, family relations as a contextual factor are found to be significant in the process of value transmission. Taking into account the cultural norms in the construction of childrearing scales, this study successfully shows the validity of four comparable dimensions. Future applications of the childrearing scale are suggested.Simons et al. investigate generational transmission by examining the possible effects of a parent's religion and parenting practices on a child's actual religious belief and deviant behaviors. An attempt is made to examine the intergenerational transmission of religiosity from parent to teenager. The results show that a parent's religiosity does have a direct effect on a child's religious belief but not on a child's deviant behavior. Instead, warm parenting that mediates through affiliation with deviant peers produces a significant effect on a teenager's behavior. …

The Clash of Family Values: The PLA's Grassroots Officer Couples

This article explores the opposing perceptions of Chinese family values, confronted by the grassroots officer couples of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Individual freedom-centered family values, associated with reforms, emphasize the importance of private family life. Yet, the PLA continues to impose institutional control-centered family values, sustained by Confucian culture, on the grassroots officer couples to compel them to self-sacrifice for public life. The clash of family values has dysfunctionalized their families, eroded their morale, and undermined their career commitment. Without the properly refined family values, however, the grassroots officer couples will not meet PLA needs and expectations in the twenty-first century.