Adolescent-Parent Schoolwork Conflicts: Understanding Educational Struggles in Chinese Families

Illuminating the intricate dynamics of adolescent-parent conflicts over schoolwork, this book provides a vivid and insightful examination of the educational difficulties experienced by contemporary Chinese families.

Drawing on interviews with 63 parents and adolescents, Cao and Tam analyze their real-life disagreements over schoolwork, revealing how both generations understand, reason about, and resolve conflicts. The authors provide a culturally sensitive analysis by exploring how Chinese values and the local education system shape these disputes. Integrating social domain theory and self-determination theory, the book traces the development of adolescent autonomy amid family tensions around schoolwork. Rich with authentic stories, this book paves a way forward for fostering healthier relationships and supporting adolescent growth.

Essential reading for scholars in developmental psychology and family sociology, this volume also provides valuable insights for family therapists, parental educators, and parents seeking to deepen their understanding of effective parenting practices.

Ge Cao is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Her research focuses on parent-child relationships and child development. She has published pertinent journal articles and contributed significantly to establishing Chinese adolescent-parent schoolwork conflict studies.

Vicky C. Tam is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Education and Psychology at Hong Kong Baptist University. Hong Kong. She has published book chapters, research monographs, and journal articles in major academic periodicals on topics including parenting, homework involvement, adolescent leisure experiences, and learning communities.