Values in parent–child relationship: Continuity and change across three generations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/1427-969X.24.01Keywords:
parent-child relationships, family values, intergenerational differences, differences in the conception of related valuesAbstract
This study examines the continuity and variability of family axiology around parent–child relationships across three generations in Vietnamese family settings. We designed a questionnaire to assess identification with traditional family values and learn how these values are interpreted. To this end, we surveyed 260 people from three age groups. The results show that the elderly are more inclined towards traditional family values. The middle-aged group tends to emphasise the responsibility of caring for the family. In contrast, the youngest group had the least rigid understanding of the parent–child relationship. The youth approved of a child’s independence from parents, reluctance to have many children, and not holding the birth of a son as critical. The results illustrated both continuity and variability of the family values held by the three generations. Many of the findings apply not only to Vietnam but also to a number of other countries.
References
Bölenius K., Lämås K., Sandman P., Lindkvist M., Edvardsson D. (2019). Perceptions of self-determination and quality of life among Swedish home care recipients – a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatry, 19, 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1145-8
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1145-8
Chaloupková J., Hofäcker H. (2014). A cross-national comparison of family trajectories and life course norms in European countries. Comparative Population Studies, 39(3), 559–586. https://doi.org/10.12765/CPoS-2014-11en
Google Scholar
Dao D.A. (1938/2021). Việt Nam Văn hóa sử cương. Nhà xuất bản Văn học. Vietnamese Culture and History. Ha Noi: Literature Publishing House.
Google Scholar
Duong T.N.A., Yoo G. (2016). A cross-national investigation into the filial piety and motivations for parenthood among Vietnamese and Korean College Students. Family and Environment Research, 54(6), 575–588. https://doi.org/10.6115/fer.2016.045
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6115/fer.2016.045
Hofstede G. (2011). Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014
Jones P. (1994). Family Values in the Mediterranean. A Seminar Report. Edinburgh: The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Family%20Values%20in%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Peter%20Jones_Acessible%20PDF.pdf
Google Scholar
Kaffashi M., Tabrizi F.G. (2011). The Effect of Social and Cultural Factors on Generation Gap. IAU International Journal of Social Sciences, 1, 313–325.
Google Scholar
Kobayashi K.M., Funk L. (2010). Of the Family Tree: Congruence on Filial Obligation between Older Parents and Adult Children in Japanese Canadian Families. Canadian Journal on Aging, 29(1), 85–96.
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980809990341
Kostromina S., Grishina N., Moskvicheva N., Zinovieva E., Burina E. (2018). Transmission of Values and Patterns of Relations: Intergenerational Studies. In: Z. Bekirogullari, M.Y. Minas, R.X. Thambusamy, C. Albuquerque (eds.), Clinical and Counselling Psychology – CPSYC, vol. 47. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences (pp. 56–66). Future Academy. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2018.10.5
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2018.10.5
Le V.H. (2016). Bổn phận và kỳ vọng về hiếu thảo: Cách nhìn nhận hiện nay của thanh niên và người già Hà Nội, Tạp chí Tâm lý học, 6, 16–28 (Filial duties and expectations: Current notion of young and old people in Hanoi, Journal of Psychology, 6, 16–28).
Google Scholar
Le V.H., et al. (2022). Hiếu thảo và cảm nhận hạnh phúc gia đình trong bối cảnh Việt Nam hiện nay. Đề tài khoa học cấp Bộ. Viện Hàn lâm Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam (Filial piety and feeling of family happiness in the current Vietnamese context. Ministerial-level scientific topic. Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, unpublished manuscript)
Google Scholar
Liu J.H., SikHung Ng, Weatherall A., Loong C. (2000). Filial piety, acculturation, and intergenerational communication among New Zealand Chinese. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22(3), 213–223.
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/15324830051036108
Mai V.H. (2017a). Family values of Vietnamese living in Vietnam and Poland. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Lodz, Poland. https://dspace.uni.lodz.pl/xmlui/handle/11089/23253?show=full
Google Scholar
Mai V.H. (2017b). Gender equality in family relations of Vietnamese living in Vietnam and Poland. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Psychologica, 20, 167–178. https://doi.org/10.18778/1427-969X.20.10
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18778/1427-969X.20.10
Mai V.H., Le V.H. (2024). The interdependence of happiness and filial piety within the family: a study in Vietnam. Health Psychology Report, 12(2), 124–132. https://doi.org/10.5114/hpr/172091
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/hpr/172091
Nguyen A.D., et al. (2023). Toward sustainable development goals in gender inequality: an analysis of gender preferences among urban pregnant women in a Southeast Asian country. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 780. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06109-z
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06109-z
Nguyen N.A., Williams Harold L. (1989). Transition from East to West: Vietnamese adolescents and their parents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 28(4), 505–515. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-198907000-00007
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-198907000-00007
Ok S.W., Chin M. (2011). Generational Comparisons of Family Values and Family Life Culture with Respect to Family Rituals. Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association, 49(4), 67–76. https://doi.org/10.6115/khea.2011.49.4.067
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6115/khea.2011.49.4.067
Park C., Lau A.S. (2016). Socioeconomic Status and Parenting Priorities: Child Independence and Obedience Around the World. Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(1), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12247
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12247
Pham V.L. (2004). Tục ngữ ca dao về quan hệ gia đình, Nhà xuất bản Chính trị quốc gia (Proverbs and folk songs about family relationships). Ha Noi: National Political Publishing House.
Google Scholar
Phan K.B. (1915/2021). Việt Nam phong tục, Nhà xuất bản Văn học, Vietnamese customs. Ha Noi: Literature Publishing House.
Google Scholar
Shwalb D.W., Shwalb B.J., Nakazawa J., Hyun J.H., Le H.V., Satiadarma M.P. (2009). East and Southeast Asia: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In: M.H. Bornstein (ed.). Handbook of cultural developmental science (pp. 445–464). New York: Psychology Press.
Google Scholar
Tran T.A. (2016). Bản sắc xứ Thanh – nhìn từ cội nguồn văn hóa truyền thống. Tạp chí Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam, 4(101), 84–94 (Thanh’s identity – seen from traditional cultural roots. Vietnam Social Sciences Journal, 4(101), 84–94).
Google Scholar
Truong T.K.H. (2023). Tâm lý học Phát triển. Nhà xuất bản Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội. Developmental Psychology. Ha Noi: Vietnam National University Press.
Google Scholar
The United Nations Population Found (UNFPA) (2011). The preference of son and advanced of technology. https://vietnam.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Son%20preference%20in%20Vietnam_ENG_Final%20version%20for%20printing.pdf
Google Scholar
Young people living independently – A study by the social security advisory committee (2018). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b040b5e40f0b6543931f6e9/ssac-occasional-paper-20-young-people-living-independently.pdf
Google Scholar
Zhou Ch., Yiu W.Y.V., Wu M.S., Greenfield P.M. (2017). Perception of Cross-Generational Differences in Child Behavior and Parent Socialization: A Mixed-Method Interview Study with Grandmothers in China. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 1–20. http://doi.org/10.1177/0022022117736029
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022117736029
Zhou Y. (2023). Conflicts in Intergenerational Relationships and Patterns of Coordination among Chinese–African Families in Guangzhou. Genealogy, 7, 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7040074
Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7040074
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2024-12-30 (2)
- 2024-12-30 (1)
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
