Family Strain and Adolescent Delinquency in Two Chinese Cities,Guangzhou and Hong Kong |
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Authors: | Chau-Kiu Cheung Ngan-Pun Ngai Steven Sek-Yum Ngai |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;(2) Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, P. R. China |
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Abstract: | Elucidating the conditions in which family strain takes effect in adolescent delinquency is one avenue along which to substantiate
general strain theory. These conditions include family relationship and the type of delinquency. In the context of Chinese
societies, the conditions also include the differences between socialist, collectivist Mainland China and capitalist, more
individualist Hong Kong. We collected survey data from 1,026 secondary school students in Guangzhou in Mainland China, and
from 1,116 in Hong Kong, to demonstrate these conditions. The results, which indicate the intimate relationship between parents
and adolescents, verify that family strain has a very strong impact on adolescent delinquency. In this connection, family
strain comprised parental support as a negative indicator. However, the effect of parental support on adolescent strain was
only weakly negative in Guangzhou and even positive in the case of nonworking mothers. The differentials in parental influence
between Guangzhou and Hong Kong are attributable to the different family policies and structures in the two cities. On the
other hand, family strain exhibited similar effects on two types of delinquency, violence and status offense. |
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Keywords: | Delinquency Family strain Chinese Parental employment Parental support |
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