本研究是探討現今華人子女對父母自我揭露的情形。研究者訪談17位介於青少年晚期與成年前期的子女,以瞭解孩子在哪些事情上對父母的自我揭露有困難及掙扎,以及最終說出口的關鍵。研究發現,受訪者在「難以言喻的禁忌話題」、「難以啟口的成長挫折」、「難以訴說的深刻情感」與「不得不說的子女義務」等主題有對父母自我揭露的困難。他們的掙扎包括:(1)基於子女角色義務,不想說但不得不說;(2)角色規範限制情感表達,想說卻說不出口;(3)相依的牽掛,想說卻不能說;(4)獨立與依賴的掙扎,想說又不願說。最終向父母自我揭露的關鍵是:(1)基於義務,不得不說;(2)安心分享,無須懼怕;(3)情緒衝擊,脫口而出;(4)為求認同,勇敢現身;(5)長大成人,朋友相待。歸納起來,華人子女想對父母自我揭露時,大多是採取「隱而不說」和「沈默不表」,或是「迂迴逃避」和「陽奉陰違」。原因可分成三大類,一是不善或不慣表達;二是害怕或擔心父母的反應,例如,尷尬、碰避、或衝突;三是長大成人,為了「證明長大」或是想「安父母心」。華人子女在順從與自主的矛盾以及義務與親密的糾結下,經過依賴和獨立的相互辯證,發展出具華人特色的親子溝通方式。
This study aimed to explore children's self-disclosure to parents in Chinese culture. 17 early adults were interviewed to collect data regarding difficult self-disclosure topics, struggles, and key factors that led to eventual disclosure. Qualitative data analysis indicated that among the difficult self-disclosure topics were ”societal taboos,” ”frustration during maturation,” ”heartfelt affection,” and ”issues that compelled disclosure, however reluctant the child.” Data showed that the common struggles early adults experience include: 1) struggles of obligation to disclose due to role as child, precipitated by fear of parents' intolerance and hostility; 2) struggles of inability to disclose due to nature of Chinese parent-child relationship norms, characterized by a conflict between deep affection and familial hierarchy power dynamics; 3) struggles to disclose for fear of parental concerns; and 4) struggles between dependence and autonomy, which include fears of being viewed as immature by parents. Key factors that led to eventual self-disclosure included: 1) obligation to inform; 2) feeling of security; 3) emotional outbursts; 4) seeking of autonomous identity, and 5) transformation of parent-child relationship into one more resembling friendship. In general, when Chinese children were compelled to self-disclose, the most common responses were to remain silent, feign compliance, speak indirectly, or to simply avoid the issue. The reasons for such responses were classified into three categories: Early adults were either 1) unused to or unable of self-expression; 2) afraid of their parents' reactions; or 3) demonstrating maturity by ”not worrying their parents.” As a whole, analyses showed that Chinese children develop a unique style of parent-child communication that results from ongoing dialectics between dependence and independence, from which inner conflicts of obedience and autonomy as well as responsibility and intimacy are constantly at work.