Over-parenting from the perspectives of Chinese parents and youths

Abstract

Overparenting has become an emergent parenting style since the 2000s and blossomed rapidly globally. Unfortunately, empirical studies on overparenting are severely lacking particularly in the Chinese context. This study explored the views of Chinese parents and youths on overparenting in Hong Kong. Based on four focus groups involving 23 parents and five young people, eight themes were extracted from the qualitative findings, including close monitoring, intrusion of child's life and direction, strong emphasis on child's academic performance, frequent comparisons on child's achievement with peers, anticipatory problem-solving, overscheduling of child's activities, excessive care, and excessive affective involvement. While some of these themes correspond to overparenting concepts in the Western contexts, some themes are distinctive to the Chinese culture. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.