Parental beliefs and parenting characteristics of Chinese parents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong

Abstract

Based on the responses of 550 Chinese parents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong, the relationships between parental beliefs (including Chinese cultural beliefs on adversity, attribution of children ' s success and failure to effort, and expectations of children ' s future) and parenting characteristics (indexed by parenting styles and parental control) were examined in this study. More positive parental child-specific beliefs, particularly parental expectations on children ' s future, were found to be associated with more positive parenting styles and stronger parental control in both paternal and maternal samples. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Family Processes and Adolescent Achievement Motivation in Poor Chinese Single-Mother Families

“…The Chinese maxim of wang zi cheng long (wishing the son to become a “dragon”) aptly demonstrates the essence of parental expectations, with “dragon” symbolizing “supremacy” and high social status. In fact, the conception of parental expectations in the Chinese culture goes beyond the completion of schooling, which includes practical and cultural values (Leung & Shek, 2013; Li, 2004). The practical values are beliefs in good educational attainment and stable job in their future, which is considered as an assurance of good future prospects and economic success.…”

“…The practical values are beliefs in good educational attainment and stable job in their future, which is considered as an assurance of good future prospects and economic success. Cultural values refer to the demands of adolescents’ attitudes and behaviors consistent with Chinese beliefs, such as high respect for education and scholarship, fulfillment of filial obligation, and possession of moral virtues (Leung & Shek, 2013; Li, 2004).…”

“…Family functioning, which represents the “quality of family life at the systemic level” (Shek, 2005, p. 518), contains the components of family mutuality, effective communication, family harmony, parental care, and parental control (Shek, 2002). According to the framework on the socialization of children’s motivation and achievement (Eccles et al, 1998) and family capital theory (Coleman, 1990), a warm, supportive family climate with affectional family relationships predicted motivation and educational achievement of adolescents (Furstenberg, Cook, Eccles, Elder, & Sameroff, 1999; Leung & Shek, 2013).…”

Associations Between Fathers’ Work-to-Family Spillover and Their Ways to Track Children’s Whereabouts and Doings: A Hong Kong Study

“…Predictors of paternal behaviors have been extensively studied in the West, but relatively less explored in China and Hong Kong. The available literature has examined factors such as fathers' work-and-family conflict (Y. K. Lau, 2010), their fathering self-efficacy and marital satisfaction (Kwok, Ling, Leung, & Li, 2013), fathering stress (Kwok & Li, 2015), parental beliefs (Leung & Shek, 2013), and perceptions on their children (E. Y. H. Lau, 2016). In this study, we focused on the impact of work spillover on paternal behaviors.…”

“…The available literature has examined factors such as fathers’ work-and-family conflict (Y. K. Lau, 2010), their fathering self-efficacy and marital satisfaction (Kwok, Ling, Leung, & Li, 2013), fathering stress (Kwok & Li, 2015), parental beliefs (Leung & Shek, 2013), and perceptions on their children (E. Y. H. Lau, 2016).…”