The effects of upbringing & filial responsibility on Chinese-Americans' decision-making

Despite an extensive amount of literature on the primary influences on the lives of Asian Americans as a whole, there lacks any substantial research on the decision-making processes of Chinese Americans in particular. Of particular interest is the 1.5 generation of Chinese Americans, a sub-population that was born outside of the United States, but immigrated prior to or during the formative years of adolescence. Due to these circumstances, they are often considered distinctly bicultural, experiencing pressures to both conform to the mainstream while maintaining their ethnic traditions. Within their ethnic background, this population is influenced most significantly by the concept of filial piety, a distinctly Confucian principle that underscores much of the Chinese culture.;Using focus groups and in-depth interviews, this study sought to understand the extent to which this population experiences identity conflicts due to the locations and circumstances of their birth and upbringing; in addition, the research explored whether this population's filial responsibilities significantly influence (negatively or otherwise) their decision-making processes.