Perceived parental control processes in Chinese adolescents: Implications for positive youth development programs in Hong Kong

Chinese secondary school students (N=3,017) were asked to respond to instruments measuring their subjective evaluation of parental behavioral control (including indicators of knowledge, expectation, monitoring, discipline and satisfaction), parental psychological control, and psychological well-being (hopelessness, mastery, life satisfaction and self-esteem). Results showed that while a significant proportion of Chinese parents did not exercise behavioral control over the peer domain of their children, some parents were high in their psychological control. Relative to the peer domain, parents generally exerted more behavioral control in the academic domain of their children. Roughly one-fourth of the respondents indicated that they were home alone or stayed with their friends without adult supervision after school. Use of after school time was associated with parental control processes and psychological well-being. The implications of the present findings on the design of the positive youth development program supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are discussed.