Cultural Adaptation, Parenting and Child Mental Health Among English Speaking Asian American Immigrant Families.
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.
Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. huangk01@nyumc.org.
Keng-Yen
0000-0003-3245-7614
KY
Huang
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Esther
E
Calzada
Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Sabrina
S
Cheng
Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
R Gabriela
RG
Barajas-Gonzalez
Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Laurie Miller
LM
Brotman
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012951:Socialization
Asian Americans; Cultural adaptation; Cultural socialization; Parenting; Parenting Values