It depends, but yes there is a stigma in the west too. We try to show respect but often there are bad feelings between "in-laws". This is not always true of course! I am sure that sometimes, in China and the West, there are happy and loving "in-laws" ^_^

Perhaps it is difficult to accept new family members who are not well-known, trust is very difficult to earn. There may be a pressure to accept "in-laws" as family which makes it harder to build trust and caring naturally over a long period.