Cultural Value Discrepancy and Adolescents' Adjustment Outcomes in Chinese Immigrant Families: The Role of Parental Psychological Control

Abstract

Chinese immigrants are the second largest immigrant group (after Mexican immigrants) according to 2010 United States Census. Their successful adjustment bears important implications for policy making, the economy, public health, and directions for research at both the societal and individual levels. This study examined academic achievement and depressive symptoms among a group of Chinese American adolescents and their immigrant parents. Moreover, this study examined whether the parental practice of psychological control mediates the link between parent-adolescent cultural value differences and adolescent schooling and mental health outcomes (i.e., academic achievement and depressive symptoms). Demographic factors such as family’s socioeconomic status and adolescents’ and parents’ gender were considered in analyses. Results indicate that multiple domains of parental psychological control serve as mediating mechanisms by which parent-child value differences influence adolescent depressive symptoms. Implications for clinical service and future research are discussed.