The main purpose of this study is to explore the factors that affect the likelihood of ethnic intermarriage in Taiwan. While past research has found individual characteristics and family background as the significant determinants of ethnic intermarriage little is known about the effects of mating process. To investigate the determinants of ethnic intermarriage, this study adopts a supply-side perspective of micro-level interaction opportunities. In particular, this paper focuses on two aspects of mating process: the contexts where a couple meets each other and the degree of autonomy as one makes the decision of marriage. We also discuss the effect of one’s education on the decision of marrying someone from a different ethnic group. A national sampling dataset used in the analysis come from the Fourth Wave of the Taiwan Social Change Survey. The results indicate that marriage autonomy and contact settings both have substantial effects in the formation of ethnic intermarriage. Specifically, the contexts where a couple meets each other, such as the schools where one attends, the workplaces where one pursues his or her career, help enhance theodds of ethnic intermarriage. Moreover, the stronger the marriage autonomy one has, the more likely for one to cross the ethnic boundary. The analytic results remind us that we should refrain from exaggerating the role of education in the ethnic intermarriage. The findings also highlight the exclusiveness of higher education and the advantage of Mainlanders. The results also support the macro-structural approach that minority ethnic groups, such as Hakka, tend to have greater opportunities of ethnic outmarriage. We do not have abundant evidence to support the statement that Mainlanders have a higher probability of outmarriage.

The purpose of this research is to analyse, through gender roles, the lives of immigrated Taiwanese youths in Australia. Four particular facets of their lifestyles will be explored, these being education, occupation, social interaction and marriage. A key goal of this research is to observe and understand the transnational values, ideologies and perceptions these young immigrants display, and the facets of their lives in which these distinct culture identities will become apparent.
The primary data sources of this research are derived from the 2001 Australian Census and twenty in-depth interviews of Taiwanese youths in Brisbane. From the results of the studies, many significant issues became apparent. It was found that in tertiary fields of study, males were much more inclined towards science and engineering related fields, while females generally chose fields in humanities and services. These distinctly different fields can be attributed to the traditional gender roles imposed by the cultural values of Taiwan and their parents who advocate them,as well as their social environment in Australia. It was also apparent that the field of study selected by these immigrated youths determined their future occupations. For both genders, perceived identity and social position were a significant factor in the selection of occupations. It could be concluded that the males feel that their family duties and personal expectations are greater than females, causing them to have a more limited occupational choice.
In general, the differences between male and female attitudes toward social relationships were minute, however when the topic of marriage arose, notable differences between the two genders arose. When asked about prospective spouses, the male interviewees generally shared a preference for Taiwanese women or Asian women who have similar cultural experiences as themselves. This preference was found to be effected by the issue of how a prospective spouse’ language and culture would impact their families. Conversely, female interviewees exhibited more flexibility and acceptance to the notion of a foreign or Australian spouse.

This study is based upon the conceptual framework of Andersen model to examine the factors affecting selection strategies of long-term care service for the elderly, which include nursing home, assisted living, community service and home care. Data was collected from a survey of 1,789 caregivers live in San-Yin area and Chia-I city in Taiwan. Results of multiple logistic regressions with control of other variables indicated that responsibility expectation and care loading are key factors for service selection. Previously stated, physical need of disabled population was the most important predictor of service using for the disable. Current results additionally indicated that care loading and expectation of responsibility of caregivers were strongly correlated with service selection, especially when physical loading, emotional and time pressure occurred, and family responsibility was not necessarily insisted. In general, family care is still a mainstream of long-term care model. However, caregivers will expect assistance from formal service systems while they are suffering a considerable pressure. This expectation will elevate rapidly with the increasing need of long-term care. The government should develop various long-term care resources to support the disabled and their caregivers for releasing living burden.

In response to industrialization and urbanization, changes in the form and function of family seem inevitable. In the study of family decline, a new typology of family is advanced that is based on kin relationships beyond co-residence boundaries. Four subtypes of family are distinguished according to contact frequency and spatial proximity, namely, the neo-extended, dispersed, alienated, and detached sub-types of family. Analyzing data collected from the fourth round of Taiwan Social Change Survey, we have identified the main determinants in the formation of a neoextended family, which include respondents’ socioeconomic status (education, wages, homeownership, religiousness), degree of adherence to traditional value, and whether or not family property has been divided. Moreover, we have found that most respondents belong to the neo-extended family, and exchanges between the respondents and their close relatives are relatively high. These findings point out that family function has been maintained despite of the progress of the nuclearization, due mainly to frequent contact and residential proximity between non-coresiding families.