Child Psychiatry and Human Development
Volume 48, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 572-583

Cultural Adaptation, Parenting and Child Mental Health Among English Speaking Asian American Immigrant Families (Article)

Huang K.-Y.* , Calzada E. , Cheng S. , Barajas-Gonzalez R.G. , Brotman L.M.
  • a Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
  • c Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • e Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Contrary to the “model minority” myth, Asian American children, especially those from low-income immigrant families, are at risk for both behavioral and emotional problems early in life. Little is known, however, about the underlying developmental mechanisms placing Asian American children at risk, including the role of cultural adaptation and parenting. This study examined cultural adaptation, parenting practices and culture related parenting values and child mental health in a sample of 157 English speaking Asian American immigrant families of children enrolled in early childhood education programs in low-income, urban neighborhoods. Overall, cultural adaptation and parenting cultural values and behaviors were related to aspects of child mental health in meaningful ways. Parents’ cultural value of independence appears to be especially salient (e.g., negatively related to behavior problems and positively related to adaptive behavior) and significantly mediates the link between cultural adaptation and adaptive behavior. Study findings have implications for supporting Asian American immigrant families to promote their young children’s mental health. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

cultural socialization Asian Americans Parenting Values Cultural adaptation Parenting

Index Keywords

Parents mental health human coping behavior Adaptation, Psychological socialization ethnology Humans migrant psychology parent Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child Asian American female Child, Preschool Parenting adult child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84986294155&doi=10.1007%2fs10578-016-0683-y&partnerID=40&md5=9e423e9f33442ed4d878edd9f968e9d6
DOI: 10.1007/s10578-016-0683-y
ISSN: 0009398X
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English