A Mixed-Methods Examination of the Family Relationship and Reconciliation between Parents and Adolescents amid the Hong Kong Social Movement

Background and Purpose: Hong Kong’s Anti-Extraction Law Amendment Bill Movement in 2019-2020 sparked strong waves of protests across the city and created turmoil within family. The intensity of conflicts between parents and children might cause relationship breakdown. This study examines the coping and reconciliation strategies of parents and adolescents in response to the exacerbating intergenerational dispute.

Methods: A sample of 38 parents [mean (SD) age = 50.55 (6.57) years, 84% female] and 38 adolescents [mean (SD) age = 20.58 (4.68) years, 63% female] were recruited from public via internet-based outreach to participate in a 4-hour semi-structured collaborative focus group interview (CFGI) focusing on intergenerational conflict arisen from the Social Movement and reconciliation within family. Parents and adolescents could express themselves in corresponding group and take turn to observe and reflect upon the alternative. CFGI ends with a collaborative discussion among parents and adolescents. Participants completed a questionnaire examining confidence in family cohesion, self-efficacy in managing conflict, and parental/filial self-efficacy before and after CFGI. Post-CFGI experience evaluation survey was conducted. Quantitative data was analyzed via Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative focus group interview of the ultimate discussion among parents and adolescents utilized thematic analysis and explored the reconciliation strategies for both.

Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a significant improvement in parents’ and adolescents’ confidence in family cohesion after attending CFGI (p < .001). Self-efficacy in conflict management and filial self-efficacy was significantly enhanced only in adolescent sample (p < .001). Descriptive statistics showed both parents and adolescents perceived high level of hope in parent-child relationship (M = 3.79 and M = 3.71, respectively) and felt better understood (M = 4.11 and M = 3.63, respectively) post-CFGI, with no significant intergenerational variation (p > .05). Qualitative analysis indicated both parents and adolescents view promotion of empathy, interpersonal reconciliation, and cognitive reframing as reconciliation strategies. Both parents and adolescents acknowledged the divergent opinions on Social Movement could be due to differences in individual upbringing and restraints by their social role. While these divergent opinions could be dynamic, the solid cherishing and appreciation for family could mend and strengthen the parent-child bonding. Findings suggest a cognitive reframing of polarization between parents and adolescents, for polarizing has underestimated the abundant beliefs among them.

Conclusions and Implications: Qualitative analysis indicated the following strategies helped parents to reconcile with their adolescent children: giving space for adolescents to vent their frustration rather than spontaneously convincing them with an authoritative attitude, and showing parental care and support; for adolescents to cope with their parents: remaining open instead of selective listening to parents, and showing patience and appreciation for parental concerns for safety in protest.

Both qualitative and quantitative evidence supported CFGI as an effective platform for individuals of divergent views to express rationally and discuss non-judgmentally, and enhance confidence in resolving conflict together as a family and empowerment of relationships. This study could provide insight for social workers to establish such a platform to settle dispute, promote respect and mutual understanding across generations, and foster a harmonious family.