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

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant to the first author from the National Research Center of Excellence—NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health supported by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P60 MD000538-05).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Keng-Yen Huang, Sabrina Cheng, R. Gabriela Barajas-Gonzalez & Laurie Miller Brotman

  2. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Esther Calzada

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  1. Keng-Yen Huang
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  2. Esther Calzada
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Correspondence to Keng-Yen Huang.

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Huang, KY., Calzada, E., Cheng, S. et al. Cultural Adaptation, Parenting and Child Mental Health Among English Speaking Asian American Immigrant Families. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 48, 572–583 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-016-0683-y

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