Psychological adaptation and autonomy among adolescents in Australia: A comparison of Anglo-Celtic and three Asian groups

A questionnaire was administered to 426 adolescents to investigate ethnic group differences on eight variables. It was hypothesized that Asian (Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese) adolescents would score higher on parental authority values, school adjustment and psychological symptoms; and lower on gender relationship/children's rights values, sense of mastery, self-esteem, life satisfaction and behavior problems than Anglo-Australians. Females were hypothesized to report higher scores on psychological symptoms but lower scores on behavior problems and sense of mastery. The results showed all three Asian groups scoring higher on parental authority values. Chinese-Australians reported higher school adjustment scores than Anglo-Australians. The three Asian groups scored significantly lower on gender relationship/children's rights values and behavior problems. But only the Vietnamese-Australians scored lower on life satisfaction; and only the Chinese-Australians reported a lower sense of mastery than Anglo-Australians. There was no group difference on self-esteem. Generation status did not exert an influence on values; but there was an interaction effect (with ethnicity) with regards to self-esteem, life satisfaction and school adjustment. The implications in relation to cultural and migration-related factors and cultural values were discussed.