In this increasingly competitive global society, the expectations held by parents for children's academic success have grown more intense. Despite the established research indicating a positive association between parental expectations and children's academic outcomes, the extent to which these expectations influence children's socioemotional well-being, as well as the mechanisms underlying this influence, remains a topic requiring further investigation. This dissertation research aimed to address this gap using a mixed methods approach. It employed quantitative methods to discover patterns of associations and mechanisms linking parental expectations to children's socioemotional outcomes, utilizing the large nationally representative dataset (Chinese Education Panel Survey). It also used qualitative interview methods to delve into the nuances and intricate processes associated with these patterns. It provides valuable insights into the psychosocial mechanisms through which parental expectations influence children's socioemotional outcomes among American and Chinese high-achieving students. The results revealed that parental expectations influence children's socioemotional well-being through the mechanisms of parental communication, involvement, and control, leading to students' experiences of feeling pressured or gaining a sense of self-efficacy. Both cultural groups of interview participants reported experiencing high expectations from their parents, but their perceptions differed in the specifics of parents' communicative behaviors and motivational strategies in helping them fulfill these expectations. Additionally, variations emerged in students' reports of emotional and motivational experiences between the two groups. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]