Strengthening Intergenerational/Intercultural Ties in Immigrant Families (SITIF): A Parenting Intervention to Bridge the Chinese American Intergenerational Acculturation Gap

Abstract

Intergenerational and intercultural conflict is a significant stressor in immigrant families that occurs because of differential acculturation between migrant parents and their children. In spite of its negative mental health consequences, few empirically tested interventions address this problem. Strengthening Intergenerational/Intercultural Ties in Immigrant Families (SITIF) is a culturally sensitive, community-based intervention that aims to strengthen the intergenerational relationship. It promotes immigrant parents’ emotional awareness and empathy for their children’s experiences, cognitive knowledge and understanding of differences between their native and American cultures, and teaches behavioral parenting skills with the objective of enhancing intergenerational intimacy. SITIF was tested with a group of 16 middle class and 14 working class immigrant Chinese parents. Using objective and subjective assessment tools, the findings provide empirical support for SITIF’s effectiveness in enhancing parenting skills and strengthening the intergenerational relationship in immigrant Chinese American families.KeywordsSITIFIntergenerational/intercultural conflictImmigrant familiesCulturally sensitive community-based interventionChinese American immigrantsAsian American families