Acculturation of Asian Indian parents: relationship with parent and child characteristics

Abstract

Culture serves as a guiding framework to parents while rearing their children. However, when parents immigrate from one culture to another, they have to negotiate the conflicting demands and values of the two cultures when making decisions about child rearing. The present study investigated various aspects of parenting demonstrated by first-generation Asian Indian immigrant parents of young children. The study aimed at understanding the relationship between acculturation and various parental and child characteristics such as parenting stress, perceived social support, reasons for migration, duration of stay in the USA, and child's age and gender. No significant correlations were found between acculturation (measured through ethnic society immersion – ESI and dominant society immersion – DSI), parental stress, and social support. Parental scores on ESI were associated with whether or not they had relatives residing in the USA, whether or not they had plans to go back to India, and the age and gender of their child. Parental scores on the DSI were associated with their age and duration of their residence in the USA. Limitations of the study and policy implications of the findings are discussed.