This study examined adolescent–parent conflict among 188 5th-, 7th-, 10th-,
and 12th-grade Chinese adolescents, 93 from Hong Kong and 95 from Shenzhen, PRC.
Individually interviewed Chinese adolescents reported disagreements with parents
over everyday issues, primarily choice of activities, schoolwork, interpersonal
relationships, and chores. Conflicts were relatively few in number, moderate in
frequency, and mild in intensity, and across contexts, conflicts were more intense
in early adolescence (5th and 7th grades) than in late adolescence (12th grade).
There were more conflicts over chores and interpersonal relationships in Hong Kong
than in Shenzhen and more conflicts over schoolwork in Shenzhen than in Hong Kong,
particularly among 7th and 12th graders. As expected, adolescents primarily
justified conflicts, particularly conflicts over choice of activities and homework,
by appealing to personal jurisdiction, and across contexts, personal reasoning
increased with age. Conflicts were resolved primarily by giving in to parents,
although adolescents desired more autonomy in decision making than they reported
having. Although adolescent–parent conflict among Chinese youth appears to
reflect the development of adolescent autonomy, culturally specific processes
influence its expression.
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