Date of Award

Spring 8-1-2005

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Karen C. Y. Liu

Second Advisor

Elizabeth J. Jared

Third Advisor

Michael W. Bahr

Abstract

This study examined the influence of Chinese American parents on their children's ethnic identity. Two research questions were designed to examine these relationships: Does the personal construct of Chinese American parents influence their children's ethnic identity and does the length of stay in the United States of Chinese American parents influence children's ethnic identity? Parental influence was identified as parents' ethnic behaviors, parents' ethnic values, parents' personal construct, and their length of stay in the United States. The 93 families who participated in this study were purposely selected from three Chinese language schools from a Midwestern city of the United States. Participants were surveyed on two sets of questionnaires designed by the researcher: set A for parents and set B for children. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis model. Results of the study revealed that parents' ethnic values and their length of stay in the United States had a low, though real, significant correlation with their children's ethnic identity. Parents' ethnic behaviors and parents' personal construct did not influence children's ethnic identity. Two ethnic values of Chinese American parents that influenced their children were success in education and respect for parents and teachers. The length of stay in the United States of the Chinese American parents also had a low relationship on their children's ethnic identity. This study revealed that an average of 14.29 years of parents' residency contributed to their children's ethnic identity formation.

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