Parental Differences in Family Processes in Chinese Families Experiencing Economic Disadvantage

Abstract

Parental differences in family processes (indexed by parental responsiveness, demandingness, control, and sacrifice for children’s education) were examined in 275 Chinese intact families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Consistent with the previous literature, results indicated that there were parent gender differences in family processes, including parental responsiveness, demandingness, control and sacrifice for children’s education based on the responses of parents and adolescents. Relative to mothers, fathers were less involved in parenting and having less sacrifice for their children’s education. Furthermore, adolescents perceived greater paternal-maternal differences in family processes than did parents. This is the first scientific research that studies parent gender differences in family processes in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords

• family processes
• parent gender differences
• poverty
• Chinese families