A study of the five main aspects of the family values of youth-at-risk in a Hong Kong home for children and juveniles

The primary aims of this study were to understand the five main aspects of the family values of youth-at-risk in a Hong Kong Home for Children and Juveniles: sex, age, birth order, family structure and socioeconomic status. The study used a modified version of a questionnaire called “Family values survey questionnaire” by Zhou (2004). The subjects of the study were male and female youth-at-risk from a Hong Kong Home for Children and Juveniles, selected through random sampling. Three hundred and two effective samples were received. The data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, cross-tabulation statistics and multiple regression. The major findings were as follows: (1) The overall family values of youth-at-risk are non-traditional. (2) The family values “Family and marriage” (FM), “Child rearing” (CR), “Parent–child relationships” (PC) and “Gender role in the family” (GR) are non-traditional; however, the value “Family responsibility” (FR) is traditional. (3) There were significant gender differences in all five family values (FR, CR, PC, GR and FR) held by youth-at-risk. (4) There were no significant age differences in any of the five family values held by youth-at-risk. (5) There were significant birth order differences among the youth-at-risk in terms of FR, CR, PR and FR, but not for GR. (6) There were significant family structure differences in terms of GR and FR, but not of FM, CR or PC. (7) There were significant socioeconomic status differences in terms of the family values held for GR and CR, but not for FM, CR or FR. (8) The most influential factor in forming the five family values of youth-at-risk was family and the least influential factors were social and cultural values. (9) Sex was the only independent variable that had predictive power for all five main aspects of the family values of youth-at-risk. Recommendations are made regarding research into the five main aspects of the family values of youth-at-risk, based on the findings of this study. All rights reserved.