An informal study on stress and pressure among Chinese American youth.

OVERVIEW

The following questions were asked of Chinese-American high school youth who regularly attend a Chinese church. Questions asked in the order presented, with no introduction to topic.

In brackets are other answers given. Because of the small sample size, the estimated margin of error is + 10% to -10%.

• If there is one thing that your parents want for you, what is it?
  • 35%, a successful life.
  • 20%, a good education.
  • 15%, to do well in school.
  • 10%, salvation.
  • [honesty; to be happy; be a good Christian; to have discipline]
• What is it that your parents want you to excel in the most?
  • 75%, school.
  • 10% spiritual growth
  • [living a healthy life; getting a good job; to be a good person]
• Of those who answered school, why?
  • 55%, to have a successful future.
  • 15%, because it’s important.
  • [they’re Asian; use gifts God has given; it’s my junior year; to be proud of me]
• Do your parents pressure you more academically than other people in your school?
  • 55%, yes.
  • 45%, no.
• What do your parents do to pressure you?
  • 40%, nag/lecture me.
  • 15%, simply have expectations.
  • 10%, take away my privileges.
  • 10%, criticize me.
  • [yell at me; watch over me; taught me from young; gently remind me]
• Why do they pressure you?
  • 55%, to do well in life.
  • 20%, they want what’s best for me.
  • 15%, make me work harder.
  • [use the talents God has given me; don’t know]
• Is this pressure good for you?
  • 65%, yes (including 15% it helps me work better, 10% I think so, 10% I guess so)
  • 25%, sometimes is, sometimes not.
  • 10%, no.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. How can youth workers be sensitive to this trend and understanding of it?
2. Practically, what can we do to help a young person honor their parents and work hard, while also integrating them into a different culture?
3. In what ways might a youth worker use this information in relating to a youth’s parents?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Youth workers must understand that this is a cultural issue.
2. Youth workers need to learn how to respect this culture while working within it.
3. Youth workers need to help individual students find their place in a struggle between two cultures—that of their parents, and that of the general American society around them.