Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Intergenerational Congruence In Chinese American Young Adults, Kimberly Doe

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Chinese American families are often underrepresented within the family therapy literature. This grounded theory study used a symbolic interaction framework to understand how second generation young adults locate themselves within the larger cultural context to construct an individual ideology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese American young adults between the ages of 18-24. Family and cultural experiences influences how young adults develop and transition from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood. This study suggests the importance for family therapists to identify Chinese American young adults’ experiences and their development to understand how multiple factors impact their construction of “I”.