Janet T. Y. Leung

Parent–Adolescent Discrepancies in Perceived Parenting Characteristics and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes in Poor Chinese Families

We examined the relationships between parent–adolescent discrepancies in perceived parenting characteristics (indexed by parental responsiveness, parental demandingness, and parental control) and adolescent developmental outcomes (indexed by achievement motivation and psychological competence) in poor families in Hong Kong. A sample of 275 intact families having at least one child aged 11–16 experiencing economic disadvantage were invited to participate in the study. Fathers and mothers completed the Parenting Style Scale and Chinese Parental Control Scale, and adolescents completed the Social-Oriented Achievement Motivation Scale and Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale in addition to paternal and maternal Parenting Style Scale and Chinese Parental Control Scale. Results indicated that parents and adolescents had different perceptions of parental responsiveness, parental demandingness, and paternal control, with adolescents generally perceived lower levels of parenting behaviors than did their parents. While father–adolescent discrepancy in perceived paternal responsiveness and mother–adolescent discrepancy in perceived maternal control negatively predicted adolescent achievement motivation, mother–adolescent discrepancy in perceptions of maternal responsiveness negatively predicted psychological competence in adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. The present findings provided support that parent–child discrepancies in perceived parenting characteristics have negative impacts on the developmental outcomes of adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. The present study addresses parent–child discrepancies in perceived parental behaviors as “legitimate” constructs, and explores their links with adolescent psychosocial development, which sheds light for researchers and clinical practitioners in helping the Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage.

Are family processes related to achievement motivation of Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong

Abstract The relationships between perceived parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education and achievement motivation were examined in 275 Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Consistent with the hypotheses, parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education were related with adolescent achievement motivation. Regression analyses further showed that maternal control and paternal and maternal sacrifice for children’s education were significant predictors of achievement motivation for adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adolescent Developmental Issues in Hong Kong: Phenomena and Implications for Youth Service

Several adolescent developmental issues in Hong Kong are examined in this chapter. First, trends of adolescent substance abuse are portrayed. Second, prevalence and phenomena of adolescent Internet addiction are examined. Third, materialistic orientation and concept of money among adolescents are outlined. Fourth, problematic adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors are presented. Fifth, phenomena related to school bullying and cyberbullying are discussed. Sixth, the trends and phenomena of adolescent poverty are reviewed. Seventh, the implications of youth unemployment and the impact of reduced income are outlined. With reference to these issues, it is argued that promotion of psychosocial competence in adolescents is important, which forms the foundation for the design and implementation of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.

Parenting for resilience: family processes and psychosocial competence of Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong

Abstract Based on the responses of 275 Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong, the relationships between family processes (including perceived parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education) and psychosocial competence were examined in this study. Results showed that parenting style, parental control, family functioning, and parental sacrifice for children’s education were positively related to adolescent psychosocial competence. Regression analyses indicated that family functioning, maternal control, and paternal sacrifice for children’s education were significant predictors of psychosocial competence of adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

The Influence of Parental Beliefs on the Development of Chinese Adolescents Experiencing Economic Disadvantage Maternal Control as a Mediator

Based on the data collected from 275 Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong, the influence of parental beliefs (Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity, attribution of children’s success and failure to effort, and expectations of children’s future) and parental control on adolescent development was examined. It was found that paternal expectations of children’s future predicted adolescents’ perceived maternal control and positive youth development. Furthermore, perceived maternal control mediated the effect of parental beliefs on adolescent positive development. This is the first scientific research that clarified the pathway through which parental beliefs influenced adolescent positive development via maternal control in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage. The research findings underscore the importance of understanding the triadic interactions among fathers, mothers, and adolescents in families experiencing economic disadvantage.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Cultural Beliefs About Adversity Scale

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese Cultural Beliefs about Adversity scale (CBA). Methods: The CBA was administered in a sample of 275 Chinese parents experiencing economic disadvantage. Results: The CBA was found to be internally consistent. Consistent with the conceptual framework, factor analyses showed that two stables factors were abstracted from the scale. The scale and subscale scores of the CBA showed correlation with parental attributional beliefs of children’s success and failure to effort and luck, respectively, thus supporting the construct validity of the measures. Conclusions: The CBA is a reliable and valid measurement tool to measure Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity from the perspective of parents in the context of poverty.

Socio-demographic and family determinants of emotional competence of high school students in Hong Kong: a 6-year longitudinal study

Abstract To understand adolescent development in the Chinese context, developmental trajectories of adolescent emotional competence over time and the related socio-demographic and family determinants were examined in a 6-year longitudinal study. Over six waves of data collection, students were invited to complete a questionnaire measuring emotional competence, paternal and maternal control, father-child and mother-child relationship, family functioning and socio-demographic characteristics. Results showed that adolescent emotional competence showed a linear increase across time. At the initial stage, gender, paternal and maternal control, father-child and mother-child relationship and family functioning influenced adolescent emotional competence. Over time, maternal control, mother-child relationship and family functioning predicted changes in the trajectory of adolescent emotional competence. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Perceived benefits of a university subject on leadership and intrapersonal development

Abstract This paper examines the perceived benefits of a university subject on leadership and intrapersonal development (“Tomorrow’s Leaders” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) from the perspective of the students. Based on the reflections of 62 students, several perceived benefits of the subject were identified, including promotion of self-understanding, enhancement of intrapersonal and interpersonal qualities, improvement of relationships with peers and their families, cultivation of new perspectives towards life, development of moral and ethical decision-making capacities, having better adjustment to the university life, acquisition of knowledge and skills to become effective leaders, and building up of competencies that will be useful in their future lives and career. These findings illustrate the importance of an effective university subject that attempts to promote the holistic development of young people.

Developing social competence in a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development

Abstract Social competence is an important positive youth development attribute for adolescent development and effective leadership. In this paper, the definitions and approaches of social competence are introduced. The antecedents and consequences of social competence are highlighted. Moreover, the relationships between social competence and effective leadership, as well as adolescent development are also addressed. In particular, egocentrism as the barrier to social competence is discussed. To enhance the social competence of university students, a lecture on social competence was designed in the curriculum of a university subject entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders”. The objectives, intended learning outcomes, lecture content and special features of the lecture are presented in this paper.

Parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning and developmental outcomes in Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage

Abstract The relationships between parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning and adolescents’ achievement motivation and psychological competence were examined. The respondents included 275 Chinese intact families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Results indicated that parents and adolescents had different perceptions of family functioning. Father-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were negatively related to adolescent achievement motivation; both father-adolescent and mother-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were also negatively associated with the psychological competence in poor adolescents. The present findings provided support for the thesis that family functioning plays an important role in shaping the developmental outcomes of adolescent experiencing economic disadvantage.