UQ PhD student Danika Hiew is investigating how inter-cultural couples, particularly from Chinese and non-Chinese backgrounds, make their relationship work.
Ms Hiew is working with Professor Kim Halford and Dr Shuang Liu on the study, which involved interviewing over 100 Australians from Chinese and Western backgrounds, about what makes relationships great.
"About 30 percent of Australian marriages are between partners born in different countries, and an increasing number of Australians are marrying people from quite different cultures," Ms Hiew said.
"For example, two thirds of second-generation Australians now marry outside their own ethnic groups."
According to Ms Hiew, there are important differences between Eastern and Western ideas on relationships.
"In Chinese culture there is much emphasis on harmony. Criticism and disagreement are often not directly stated in order to avoid damaging the relationship. In contrast, Westerners are taught that open expression of ideas and opinions is healthy.
"As described by a Western man: '[You should be] open both with your own feelings and expressions … There needs to be a willingness to engage in that dialogue to fully understand,'" Mrs Hiew said.
"A Chinese woman in an inter-cultural relationship reported that: 'I should respond likewise but I don't express what I really feel. I feel that difference between East and West … a lot of times we don't say what we mean in case it hurts the other's feelings.'"
Professor Halford said: "Marrying into a different culture brings many rewards. You learn your way of seeing the world is not the only one. Couples who can draw on the strengths of two cultural traditions can build a great life together.
"At the same time there is a need to understand and adjust to the different ideas your spouse has about what a relationship should be like."
The team invites Chinese couples, Chinese-Western couples and Western couples who live in or near Brisbane to contact the University of Queensland research team on 0424 323 716 or interculturalresearch@psy.uq.edu.au to learn more about the research.