007-02: A Theoretical Analysis of Role Changes and Effects on Coresidence Living

Academic work has focused on the reasons for adult living with parents (Smits et al., 2010; Ward & Spitze, 1996), but lacks theoretical work explaining relationship dynamics in coresidence. A life course perspective considers not moving out as “out of sequence” (Neugarten, 1976) despite this having become more normative (Milan, 2016; Vespa, 2017). Symbolic interaction theory explains role shifts while conflict theory explains family dynamics. Using these theories, a new model can illustrate the factors affecting positive or negative experiences of coresidence. Redefining the meaning of “adulthood” and “home,” clarifying roles while recontributing resources, internal conflict within the family decreases.

007-03: Understanding Siblings' Differential Treatment Within the Cultural Contexts that Justify In-Group Hierarchy

The recent adoption of the two-child policy in China represents a major change in social policy that influences individual families’ structure and dynamics. The growing number of multi-children families is calling for more research on sibling interactions in the context of contemporary Chinese culture. The major goal of this research is to investigate the implication of siblings’ differential treatment within Chinese cultural contexts that emphasize within-family interdependence and the legitimacy of in-group hierarchy. Children’s values on family responsibilities and their acceptance of differentiated family roles will be studied as the moderator between siblings’ differential treatment and children’s developmental outcome.