ABSTRACT
Family obligation refers to a collection of attitudes and behaviors related to the provision of support, assistance, and respect to family members. It is a type of familial connection that emphasizes the membership of children in the larger social group of the family (Fuligni, Tseng, & Lam, 1999). As a member of that group, children have roles and responsibilities that include assisting other family members and taking into account the needs and wishes of the family when making important decisions. An emphasis on family obligation is a common element of the unique cultural traditions of many groups, including those from Asian, Latin American, and African societies (Kagitcibasi, 1990). Chinese societies, in particular, have traditionally placed great importance on children's roles and duties in the family as part of the larger Chinese value of filial piety, of which family obligation is one component. It has been suggested that the obligation to the family that is emphasized in Chinese societies includes
dimensions such as a belief in the need to repay parents for their efforts in raising the children, a willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of the family, and a respect for the authority of the family (Ho, 1996; Huang, 1989; Yang, 1989).
