Adolescent Nondisclosure in Cultural Context Voices of Chinese American Adolescents and Parents

This qualitative study explored second-generation Chinese American adolescents’ nondisclosure to parents on the basis of their experiences in daily interactions. The research questions were as follows: (a) What role does adolescents’ nondisclosure play in parent-adolescent relationships in second-generation Chinese American families? (b) How do factors of adolescent nondisclosure interplay with the cultural context? In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 16 adolescents (6 boys and 10 girls, average age 15) and 11 immigrant parents in a large urban area in the Western United States. The principal theme of the findings shows nondisclosure as an adaptive strategy to pursue autonomy in harmony with parental regulation. Findings are interpreted in light of cultural influences. These findings suggest that Chinese American parents need to make adaptations in the way of their parental control and should focus more on adolescents’ current interests.