GENDER, SIBLING POSITION AND PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS: A STUDY OF CHINESE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

DIFFERENCES IN PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS RELATED TO CULTURAL BACKGROUND, GENDER AND SIBLING POSITION WERE INVESTIGATED AMONG CHINESE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN MACAU. THREE-HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR CHINESE COLLEGE STUDENTS COMPLETED A QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH INCLUDED MEASURES OF PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR GENDER, CULTURAL BACKGROUND (MAINLAND CHINA OR MACAU) AND SIBLING POSITION. PARTICIPANTS BORN IN MAINLAND CHINA REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER PERCEIVED PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS (PPE) COMPARED WITH STUDENTS FROM MACAU. CONTRARY TO PREDICTIONS, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A DIFFERENCE IN PPE IN RELATION TO GENDER OR BEING THE FIRST-BORN SIBLING. THESE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF CHANGES IN FAMILY VALUES AND PARENTAL ATTITUDES WITHIN CHINESE SOCIETY OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.