Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Journal

Previous research examined the effect of familial conflict on college students and how this affects familial relationships and causes feelings of guilt. However, there has not yet been a study looking specifically at emotional burden stemming from not fulfilling familial expectations in regard to major choice at college. In this study, we examined the correlation between negative affective experiences and familial conflict over major choice. We focused on the experience of negative emotions when deviating from familial expectations, as well as the cultural differences and similarities between Asian and European Americans going through this experience. We assessed participants’ experience of familial expectations regarding major choice, their decision to fulfill or subvert those expectations, and their emotions as a result of their decision. Our findings showed that negative emotions such as sadness and guilt were stronger when subverting expectations while positive emotions such as happiness were stronger when fulfilling expectations. In addition, we found that Asian American students were more likely to experience a familial expectation regarding their major choice and reported significantly more guilt when subverting familial expectations than European Americans students. Overall, familial expectations play a crucial role in Asian American students' major choice and emotional well-being at college.