Chinese Families from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

To gain greater insights into contemporary Chinese immigrant families in North America, it is imperative to understand the history of Chinese societies. This chapter provides an overview of the immigration history of Chinese families to Canada and the United States and the intracultural diversity in major Chinese societies (Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) that have influenced these families in their native countries and abroad. We then explore how their acculturation pathways have impacted their family relationships, parenting practices and beliefs. Next, we describe the traditional values regarding family, interpersonal relations, and gender roles that have influenced Chinese families, and how some of the recent social changes have influenced contemporary immigrant and non-immigrant Chinese families’ family lives. We conclude with some practical implications for the mental health and other helping professions to better assist Chinese immigrants to deal with mental health issues and overcome barriers of seeking professional assistance.