How Chinese International Students in the U.S. Navigate Family Values in a Cross-Cultural Context
Open Access DepositedThis thesis examines how family structure, childhood experiences, cross-cultural adaptation, and digital communication shape the family values of Chinese international students in the United States. While existing research has explored international students' acculturation, limited attention has been paid to how they negotiate family expectations alongside cultural shifts. Integrating theories of acculturation, family systems, and cultural hybridization, this study analyzes how students navigate identity and familial obligations within a transnational context.Drawing on qualitative interviews of 20 Chinese internationa18 to 26 attending undergraduate or graduate programs in the United States, the findings reveal tensions between filial piety and personal independence, with students selectively adapting their family values based on socio-economic backgrounds, digital communication practices, and migration histories. Digital technologies play a dual role by maintaining familial ties and enabling students to renegotiate parental expectations, internalize original cultural values, and simultaneously challenge static acculturation models. Moreover, distinct gender patterns emerged, highlighting differences in how male and female students experience and adapt to family expectations and roles.
- All rights reserved
Notice to Authors
If you are the author of this work and you have any questions about the information on this page, please use the Contact form to get in touch with us.