Cultural Foundations of Parenting Beliefs Among Taiwanese American Parents: A Qualitative Family Systems Study

Abstract

Parenting beliefs are shaped by cultural, intergenerational, and relational influences within family systems. This qualitative study examined the broad cultural factors influencing the expression of parenting beliefs among Taiwanese American parents. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six Taiwanese American parents residing in the Midwest. Thematic analysis yielded five salient topics: initial foundations for parenting, influence of one's own childhood on parenting, influence of ethnic identity and acculturation, evolution of parenting beliefs over time, and parenting methods employed. Findings suggest that parenting beliefs function as organizing frameworks that are relationally embedded and dynamic rather than fixed or prescriptive. Participants described selectively retaining, modifying, or rejecting intergenerational and cultural influences as they adapted their parenting beliefs to contextual demands. Clinical implications for family counseling include the importance of exploring parents’ belief systems, intergenerational narratives, and cultural meaning-making processes to support culturally responsive and collaborative practice.

Keywords

Taiwanese American parenting parenting beliefs family systems culture and parenting qualitative research family counseling

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