A conceptual framework studying transnational immigrant family experiences: The phenomenon of Chinese seasonal parents/grandparents in New Zealand

Abstract

AbstractDespite heightened scholarly attention paid to transnational immigrant families since the 1990s, a systematic analysis framework explaining the formation of these family experiences has been absent. Building on a 3‐year qualitative research project (2017–2020) investigating the multigenerational dynamics of new Chinese immigrant families from the People's Republic of China living in New Zealand, through exploring the formation of the seasonal parents/grandparents phenomenon within those families, this paper introduces an analysis framework to systematically interrogate the factors shaping diverse transnational family experiences. The proposed analysis framework builds upon an inclusive paradigm, which allows the future investigation of transnational family experience to trace multilevel impact factors behind its formation (i.e., microlevel family dynamics, mesolevel living environment and macrolevel institutional foundations). Additionally, it also highlights the interactivity of those diverse impact factors within and across different levels, as well as the spatial and temporal dimensions of transnational family lives.