The Transmission of Filial Piety and Emotional Well‐Being and Praise's Effect

ABSTRACT Objective This study examines the transmission of filial piety values and emotional well‐being across 3‐generation Chinese families and the effects of parents' praise. Background Filial piety is a Chinese value putting strong requirements on children's obligations. Existing research suggests significant associations among parents' filial piety values, parenting behaviors, and children's emotional well‐being. However, the literature tests a small set of parenting behaviors and lacks research comprising three generations. Method This study investigates the transmission of filial piety values in terms of the dual filial piety model and emotional well‐being in a cross‐sectional 3‐generation design. Analyses also evaluate the effects of praise and generational and gender differences in the effects of filial piety. Results Despite limitations of data, results partially support the transmission of filial piety values and their predictive effects on child emotional well‐being. Praise is only significantly related to child emotional well‐being. This study does not suggest generational or gender differences in the predictive effects of filial piety. Results partially support the transmission of emotional well‐being across three generations. Conclusion Filial piety remains related to emotional well‐being, and its content matters. Implications Filial piety may be beneficial in Chinese families when parents develop intimate parent–child relationships.