Family Influence on Adolescent Values and Identity in Modern China

Authors

  • Zhao Zhulin Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev
  • Gulmira Karabalaeva Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8666-2698
  • Zhu Yutian Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev
  • Huang Long Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev
  • Wang Zhenfei Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the main criteria for raising adolescents in a Chinese family and its role in this process. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including questionnaires and interviews, involving 800 adolescents and 700 parents. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential methods to interpret the data. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Confucian values and social learning theory, the study revealed that the family significantly influences adolescents by shaping their values, attitudes toward learning, and social norms. Traditional family values continue to play an important role, but there is a growing desire for independence among adolescents. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the results can be used in educational programs and family policy development to create effective strategies for interaction between parents and adolescents, taking into account current socio-cultural changes in China.

Keywords

Cultural traditions, Human behaviour, Sociocultural factors, Technological development

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Author Biographies

Zhao Zhulin, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev

Master and doctoral student at the Department of Pedagogy, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev. Research interests: changing parenting styles in urban China and their impact on adolescents’ emotional and social adjustment.

Gulmira Karabalaeva, Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn

Full doctor, professor and a head of the Department of Pedagogy of Higher School, Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. She is interested in parental involvement in education and mental health outcomes.

Zhu Yutian, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev

Master and doctoral student at the Department of Pedagogy, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev. Research interests: child welfare policy, family structure, and adolescent well-being in East Asian societies.

Huang Long, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev

Doctoral student at the Department of Pedagogy, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev. Research interests: parent–child communication, adolescent autonomy, and the psychological effects of academic pressure in Chinese families.

Wang Zhenfei, Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn

Doctoral student at the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. Research interests: how traditional Confucian values interact with modern parenting practices.

Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Zhulin, Z., Karabalaeva, G., Yutian, Z., Long, H., & Zhenfei, W. (2026). Family Influence on Adolescent Values and Identity in Modern China. Quaderns De Psicologia, 28(1), e2280. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/qpsicologia.2280

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