"Is this 'their country' or our home?"

Backgrounds

Parental involvement has been shown as a key factor that supports positive social, emotional, and functional outcomes of children with developmental disabilities (DD).
Asian immigrant is the fastest-growing immigrant population in the U.S. However, studies showed that Asian immigrant parents face additional barriers when they access and utilize health and education services for their child with DD, compared to U.S.-born parents.
Study aim: Describe how Asian immigrant parents perceive and enact their parental role while accessing and using services for their child with DD in the U.S.

Methods

Meta-synthesis
Narrative study

Findings (Meta-synthesis)

The multifaceted parental role

The process of role enactment

Parents' perceived parental role is to help their child thrive and live happily.

Their parental role is multifaceted.
These facets are. interrelated

Theme 1: The process of role enactment is a continuous process
Theme 2: Individual factors affect how they choose to enact their parental role at any given time.
- Individual factors include: Their child’s age, Parents’ perceived English proficiency, Level of parental empowerment, Parents’ cultural backgrounds
Theme 3: The experience of role realization further encourages parents to enact their role in the same way in the future; and the experience of role dissatisfaction requires parents to use coping strategies to address the dissatisfaction.
- Coping strategies include: Be self-reliant, Seek and manage resources, Have no choice but to give up, Learn to conform to the mainstream expectations for immigrant parents
Theme 4: Parents are more likely to experience role realization if system factors are supports, and more likely to experience role dissatisfaction if system factors are barriers
- System factors include: Policies and practice in the U.S., Social supports, Language accommodation, Individual service providers

Publication (Meta-synthesis)

Hwang, I. T.*, Kramer, J., Cohn, E., & Barnes, L. (2020). Asian Immigrant Parents’ Role Enactment While Accessing and Using Services for Their Child with Developmental Disabilities in the United States: A Meta-Synthesis Study. Qualitative Health Research. 30(11), 1632-1646. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320926138 [SSCI (Social sciences, interdisciplinary) Q1]

Abstract

We conducted a meta-synthesis to explore how Asian immigrant parents in the United States enact their perceived parental role while using health and educational services for their child with developmental disabilities. We identified 11 qualitative studies for analysis, and examined these studies using a constant comparative approach and thematic analysis informed by role theory and acculturation theory. Based on our analysis, five themes related to parents’ role enactment emerged: (a) parents perceive a multifaceted parental role; (b) parents’ individual factors influence their role enactment; (c) system factors influence parents’ role enactment; (d) parents use coping strategies to address role dissatisfaction; and (e) parental role enactment is a continuously evolving process influenced by acculturation, which spirals them toward their ultimate goal of helping their child thrive. Findings can inform practitioners’ and researchers’ understanding of how to create a culturally safe environment to support Asian immigrant parents in realizing their parental role.

Findings (Narrative study)

The demographic characteristics of study participants

Perceived parental role while supporting adult child with DD

Parents’ role enactment while supporting their child transition to adulthood

Regarding what Chinese-speaking immigrant parents want to achieve while supporting their child with DD transition to adulthood, their perceived parental role is identified as helping their young adult child live a happy and meaningful life.
Similar to the findings of the meta-synthesis, their parental role also is multifaceted, but more focused.

Here’s an overview of themes related to parents’ role enactment while supporting their child transition to adulthood.

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