Tuesday 13 November 2007

Chinese people defend traditional family values

A recent survey revealed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) shows that despite great social changes, traditional values like family harmony still play an important role in Chinese people's heart.

In doing the research, CASS tried to find out to what degree Chinese people felt harmonious in their state of mind. In doing it, CASS listed four criteria that were used to judge a person's mental harmony: self-satisfaction, interpersonal relationship, family relationship and attitude towards society. Interpersonal relationship is regarded as the most important among the four. Of the four criteria included in the research, family atmosphere won the most score, indicating that Chinese people are most satisfied with their family relationships. And a harmonious family relationship helps raise people's general condition with regard to their mental harmony.

When society is undergoing transformation, Chinese poeple's family structure has also undergone great changes. Despite this, many people still respect traditional values that focus on family harmony.

Compared with other aspects, Chinese people like to devote more energy to maintaining their families and as a result, they tend to get more support and help from their families.