Asian Immigrant Parents’ Role Enactment While Accessing and Using Services for Their Child With Developmental Disabilities in the United States: A Meta-Synthesis Study

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.

Struggle for recognition, rights, and redistribution: Understanding the identity of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in China

“…Parent identity is central to parents’ self-perceptions and parenting behavior ( McBride et al, 2005 ; Hwang et al, 2020 ). Yet the identity of parents of children with ASD in non-western contexts remains under-researched.…”

“…Parent identity consists of parents’ understandings of the meanings of being a parent, their expectations toward parenting, and their evaluation of self as a parent ( Rane and McBride, 2000 ; Maurer et al, 2001 ). Empirical studies find that it plays a significant role in guiding the behavior of parenting ( McBride et al, 2005 ; Hwang et al, 2020 ). The lives of parents of children with ASD are shaped by care they give, receive, and would prefer.…”