An Interview Study of Parent-Child Communication About Substances in Chinese Immigrant Families

Through interviewing Chinese immigrants in the United States, this study examined the family communication patterns (FCP) and Asian values reflected in parent-child communication about substances in Chinese immigrant families with children above the age of 10. The study had four major findings. First, parents demonstrated different attitudes toward alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs, which reflected the norms and values rooted in their culture of origin. Second, Chinese immigrant families exhibited typical protective communication styles characterized by low levels of conversation but high levels of conformity. In particular, structural traditionalism was emphasized in various contexts. Finally, the FCP illustrated a tension between adapting to American cultural norms and retaining their original values during Chinese parents’ acculturation process. They also showed that immigrants’ multidimensional acculturation process might affect children’s substance-related attitudes and behaviors.