Paternal and maternal influences on family functioning among Hong Kong Chinese families

The linkages between dyadic relationships in the family and family function ing were examined in 378 Chinese families on two occasions. The following d yadic relationships were investigated: (a) parent-child relationship qualit ies reported by adolescent children (questionnaire and interview measures o f parenting style, parent-adolescent conflict, parent-adolescent communicat ion, and parent-adolescent relationship) and by their parents (questionnair e measures of parent-child relationship quality and demand); and (b) marita l quality reported by the parents via questionnaire measures. Results showe d that parents' and children's views of family functioning were longitudina lly related to dyadic relationships in the family. Relative to mother-adole scent relationship and mothers' report of marital quality, father-adolescen t relationship and fathers' report of marital quality were generally found to have a stronger association with perception of family functioning and it s change over time.