I-Han Hsu

I-Han Hsu is a MA student in Communication Studies. She is from Taiwan and has been studying at UNI since Fall 2007. She has a BA in social work from Shih-Chien University in Taiwan. A professor recommended that she attend UNI for her graduate degree because of the learning and living environment. After looking at the UNI website, she decided to come here.

I-Han has had internships with the Taiwan I-Link Community Association and the Taipei Municipal Hospital. With I-Link, she helped households that needed social support and organized community activities. At the hospital, she provided counseling and group activities for people with mental disabilities. She hopes to continue working for non-profit organizations in family and human services after graduation in December 2009.

I-Han’s current research focuses on how parenting styles influence college students’ self-esteem and peer relationships. Although focusing primarily on Taiwanese parenting, the researched is based on current studies in the United States. Examining existing research, she has found that Chinese culture puts more emphasis on filial piety and parental authority. Although this is not viewed as ideal parenting in Western culture, studies have shown a positive relationship between the controlling parenting styles and children’s self-esteem and socially competent behavior. This summer she will do her own research on parenting and student self-esteem in Taiwan.