Witnessing Interparental Violence in a Chinese-American Household
| dc.contributor.author | Wong, Losa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-05-08T13:23:19Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-05-08T13:23:19Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Interparental violence (IPV) literature indicates the witnessing experience of children is traumatic and has enduring consequences. The purpose of this study was to increase our understanding of the growing-up experience and coping styles of Chinese American children exposed to IPV. Thirteen adult Chinese American child witnesses (10 females and 3 males) were interviewed. Data collected included demographic information and a semi-structured in-person interview aimed at exploring child witnesses' growing up experiences in a Chinese American home with IPV. Through an analysis of the interview data using the grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss & Corbin ( 1990), eight themes on the growing up experiences of Chinese American child witnesses of IPV were identified : (1) losses central to the IPV phenomenon; (2) self-imposed isolation; (3) parentification; (4) migration stress; (5) intergenerational transmission of trauma; (6) poor memory recall of parents' fighting; (7) adaptive coping strategies are influencing factors for internalizing and externalizing behaviors; and (8) distinguishing resiliency factors. Results highlight the influence of Chinese cultural values and beliefs on Chinese American child witnesses of IPV. Child witnesses in this study were socialized to practice family interconnectedness, mutual obligations, loyalty to the family, and family harmony. As a result, these child witnesses developed a bicultural self-identity that integrates both an interdependent (collectivistic) and independent (individualistic) self-construal. The formation of an interdependent self-construal, keeping family secrets to "save face" for the family, parentification, and use of non-confrontational coping strategies may serve as protective factors for Chinese American child witnesses because they help to maintain family harmony. However, these processes can also be risk factors for psychological distress for Chinese American children in violent situations. A breach of parental support, denial of self, avoidant style of coping, potential for maladaptive perfectionism, and social isolation may contribute to internalizing behaviors such as depression and anxiety. In addition, the psychological well-being and behavioral outcome of Chinese American child witnesses of IPV appear to also be associated with their resilience and relative access to resources. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/3403 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher.institution | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| dc.title | Witnessing Interparental Violence in a Chinese-American Household | |
| dc.type | Dissertation | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Psychology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Psychology |