Volume 3,Issue 8
The Imbalance and Adaptation of Kinship Symbols: A Study of Kinship Estrangement (Duanqin) Among University Students from the Perspective of Symbolic Interactionism
Grounded in symbolic interactionism, this study examines “kinship estrangement” (duanqin) among university students, which manifests through ritualized interactions, reconstructed symbolic meanings, and shrinking kinship networks. These patterns stem from the inefficacy of traditional kinship symbols, breakdowns in shared situational consensus, and conflicts in self-role identity. Such estrangement risks fragile emotional support systems, weakened family cohesion, and diminished social integration. To address these challenges, we propose reconstructing emotional symbols, building shared situational contexts, and reshaping interaction strategies to foster modern adaptation in kinship relations.
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