Bond, Obligation, Difference, and Distress: emerging adulthood mother-daughter relationships in contemporary China

• In Event: 50261 - Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 9: Intergenerational Relationships

Abstract

In contemporary China, the extended transition to adulthood has reshaped family dynamics, creating tensions between young adults’ autonomy and filial piety. This study examines the evolving relationships between emerging adult daughters and their mothers through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 18 daughters and 10 mothers and social media data. Findings reveal emerging adulthood as a distinct life stage marked by societal pressures and shifting family roles. Filial piety remains central, with guidance and expectations flowing unidirectionally from mother to daughter. However, it also evolves into a more affection-oriented framework, facilitating negotiation and conflict resolution. These dynamics highlight mother-daughter relationships as adaptive sites of negotiation, adapting to sociocultural changes when striving to maintain emotional bonds. By contextualizing emerging adulthood and filial piety within broader sociocultural shifts, this study highlights the need for further exploration of how traditional ideals and contemporary aspirations intersect in transitional societies.

Author

• Siwei Li, University of Utah