Answers on E.12

A.

C.

B.

Behavioural problems

stepchildren are prone to

Being resentful

Having diffi culty

concentrating

Being more reliant

on adults

Being less happy Being anxious

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News in Liberal Studies Wednesday 18 May 2016

Text: Anvil Ong

E.06

Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships

CHILDREN in remarried families are more likely to suffer from depression or have behavioural problems than those in fi rst-married families, a survey found.

City University of Hong Kong (CityU, 香港城市大學) interviewed 340 first-married families and 47 remarried families last year in the survey commissioned by the St James’ Settlement (聖雅各福群會) charity.

The results, found that children in remarried families are more likely to have behavioural problems such as getting angry easily, being resentful, or having diffi culty concentrating. They are also more prone to anxiety and nervousness, and become more reliant on adults in unfamiliar situations.

In addition, they rated themselves as being less forgiving and less happy than those in fi rst-married families.

Sylvia Kwok Lai Yuk-ching (郭黎玉晶), associate professor in the department of applied social sciences at CityU, said: “We also found that these stepchildren spend less time in

conversations with both their biological and stepparent, and rely less on parents than children from fi rst-married families.”

Assistant professor Andrew Low Yiu-tsang (羅耀增), who headed the survey, said stepfamily children who have a better relationship with their stepfather or biological father tend to have fewer behavioural problems.

“Fathers are signifi cant role models for children in terms of mimicking behaviour. A closer father-and-child relationship also builds a stronger sense of security for children,” Low said.

The survey found that stepfamily children who are closer with their stepmother or biological mother are more willing to reach out to others in need, and have a stronger linkage with society.

The proportion of remarried couples among all marriages registered in Hong Kong rose from 11.5 percent in 1991 to 35.3 percent in 2013.

Disharmony in the family circle Stepchildren prone to anger, survey fi nds

據北京大學和社

會交友網站百合

網的聯合調查，

七年之癢可能早

在婚姻三到五年

內到達。研究人

員調查了80,000

人，遍及31個省

市，包括香港、

澳門。這研究發

現，結合的喜悅

會在三到五年間

下 降 到 最 低 水

平，而一半以上

的婚姻有問題都

與婚外情有關。

此外，8.9％的人

表示，他們寧願

單身。

St James’ Settlement

Marriage and divorce trends in Hong Kong, 1991 to 2013

(The Standard, Kinling Lo, 16 May 2016)

背景資料

A study has found wide behavioural differences in children from remarried families and those from fi rst-married households. (Sing Tao Daily)

6 terms to know

Writing Tips

LS in action

http://goo.gl/MOTZWR http://goo.gl/HNthrA

1. Why do stepchildren who have a better relationship with their stepfather or biological father tend to have fewer behavioural problems?

A. fathers are usually the breadwinners B. fathers are usually stricter than mothers C. fathers take good care of them D. fathers are signifi cant role models for them

2. Which type of stepchildren has a stronger linkage with society? A. those who are closer with their stepmother or biological mother B. those who are closer with their stepfather or biological father C. those who are more resentful D. those who are closer with their grandparents

3. Which of the following usually apply to stepchildren? (1) spend less time in conversations with their biological parent and stepparent (2) spend more time in conversations with their biological parent and stepparent (3) rely less on parents than children from fi rst-married families (4) rely more on parents than children from fi rst-married families

A. Only (1) and (2) B. Only (1) and (3) C. Only (3) and (4) D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

1. How should a divorced parent prepare his or her child before remarriage?

2. What can stepchildren do to adapt to a new family?

3. Why is the number of remarried couples rising in Hong Kong?

4. What should parents do if their stepchild has behavioural problems?

5. Do you think young people today get proper family education? Why?

6. Do you think behavioural problems are also common in children from first-married families? Why?

Multiple ChoiceCircle the best answer to the following questions.

Extend the following mind map to list out the behavioural problems that stepchildren are prone to.

Critical Thinking

Mind Map

depression (n) 抑鬱症• He has been suffering from severe depression

since he closed his shop a few months aho.

resentful (adj) 氣憤的• He was resentful at not being invited to your

birthday party.

prone to (adj phr) 易于• He is prone to anger so do not provoke him.

reliant (adj) 依賴的• The children are too reliant on their mother.

mimic (v) 模仿• He is very good at mimicking other people.

linkage (n) 聯繫• There seems to be no linkage between the

protests and the tough measures to curb property prices.

Reach out to someone means offer someone help and support.

Within reach of something means close to something.

• The hotel is within reach of supermarkets and shopping centres.

Reach the end of the road means be at the point at which something can no longer continue in the same way.

• The team reached the end of the road in the competition when it was defeated yet again.

Reach for the stars means aim for something that is diffi cult or impossible to get.

• If you want to be successful, you must dare to reach for the stars.

A reach of the imagination means having to try very hard to imagine something.

• You will not understand the story without a reach of the imagination.

Reach out to