A comparative cross-cultural study on the influence of family structure on the education of contemporary adolescents in China and Kyrgyzstan

Objective

The relevance of study stems from the need for a profound understanding of how various aspects of family structure influence adolescent upbringing in contemporary China amid sociocultural transformation. The objective was to identify trends and factors shaping parenting practices in Chinese and Kyrgyz families.

Methods

The methodology combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, including Likert-scale questionnaires and statistical analysis using SPSS. A sample of 600 adolescents aged 12-18 was surveyed, enabling a comparative analysis of parenting practices across two cultural contexts.

Results

The findings revealed that Chinese adolescents reported significantly higher satisfaction with family relationships (4.2 vs. 3.8 in Kyrgyzstan, p = 0.032) and greater perceived emotional support from family (4.3 vs. 3.9, p = 0.018). Kyrgyz respondents experienced more stress due to family conflicts (3.8 vs. 3.2, p = 0.007), which negatively affected their academic performance (3.6 vs. 3.1, p = 0.025). A SWOT analysis highlighted the strengths of Chinese families in stability and support, whereas Kyrgyz families reported higher levels of emotional distress related to family conflicts. In China, adolescents from multigenerational families achieved an average academic performance score of 4.4, which was 19% higher than the 3.7 score seen in nuclear families. In Kyrgyzstan, the gap was 9%, with multigenerational families scoring an average of 3.6, compared to 3.3 in nuclear families.

Conclusion

The conclusions highlight that family structure significantly influences adolescents’ emotional resilience, academic motivation, and social adaptation. This research can inform culturally sensitive family support programs in countries undergoing similar transformations.