John K. Miller

Marriage and Family Therapy in the People's Republic of China: Current Issues and Challenges

Chinas rapid social and economic developments over the last decade have prompted many changes across the population. The stigma associated with counseling and therapy is beginning to fade. With rich cultural traditions of multigenerational family connections, marriage and family therapy has emerged as a popular modality of mental health service. This article provides a review of the available literature regarding the development of mental health services in China, noting the recent transformations relevant to the practice of therapy. The implications for the future of clinical practice, education, and curriculum development are also discussed.

Chinese and American Individuals’ Mate Selection Criteria Updates, Modifications, and Extensions

In this study, we compared Chinese and American never-married heterosexual adults’ minimum mate selection criteria (N = 1,260) and write-in responses on additional criteria important in mate selection (N = 756). Participants’ mean age was 25.55 years (SD = 4.44), and data were collected in 2013. Having analyzed quantitative and qualitative data both separately and corroboratively, we discuss Chinese and American individuals’ cultural emphases and unique expressions regarding the relative prioritization of mate selection criteria and additional mate selection criteria typically not included in mate selection studies. We also compare our findings with the results of previous mate selection studies, highlighting possible developments in Chinese and American individuals’ mate selection criteria, and suggest potential modifications and extensions of existing survey items to more comprehensively capture individuals’ mate selection criteria, particularly in different cultural contexts.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Marriage and Family Therapy in China

The purpose of this special issue is to introduce five pioneering articles regarding issues relevant to family therapy in China. Systemic family therapy is growing rapidly in China, providing a new opportunity to broaden the field’s tradition of international connectedness. It has been over 30 years since China’s “open door policy” began, signifying China’s transformation from a traditional agricultural society to a modern industrial society (Chen, 1985; Li, Duan, Ding, Yue, & Beitman, 1994; Perkins, 1994). More recent growth in China in the areas of psychology, counseling, and therapy has been fueled by the government’s acknowledgment of the social burden caused by mental health issues in the country (Phillips et al., 2009). Most professional fields in the West, including education, business, and politics, have felt the influence of China’s development over the last few decades. Of all the traditionally Western mental health disciplines available in China, family therapy has emerged as one of the most popular and fastest growing modalities of intervention (Liu, Zhao & Miller, 2012). This may be in part due to the early introduction of family therapy trainings in China in the 1980s and/or the natural fit between systems theory, family therapy, and Chinese society’s emphasis on filial piety and collectivist values (Liu et al., 2012). It is indeed an interesting time for the practice of family therapy in China and for the emerging collaborative efforts between researchers, educators, and therapists from the West and the East. It is likely that the next decade of international collaborations will shape the face of mental health treatment in China for many generations to come. This special section of the Journal of Family