Chinese Immigrants In Australia Research Articles

Telling the stories of China well? The perception of China's rise by second-generation Chinese immigrants in an Australian University

AbstractChina's rise has been discussed in various ways, but only recently has scholarship started to examine it in relation to overseas Chinese, as politicians and commentators outside China, as well as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) itself and some scholars on “smart power” have come to realize their importance as political messengers of China. This paper analyses interview results with second-generation Chinese immigrants in Australia in tertiary education to examine how they are “telling the China story”. The results reveal this cohort's complex attitudes towards China's rise. On the one hand, they are proud of China's rise, especially in economic terms, and their socio-cultural attachment to it. On the other, they critically evaluate political and social issues in China, and are aware of their marginal position in Chinese society. These findings argue against the oversimplistic approach that regards Chinese immigrants as a homogenous group acting as political messengers of the CCP.

The Hybrid Identity Construction of Young Australian Chinese—From the Language Applied Perspective

This study investigates the constitution of the development of hybrid identity in young Australian Chinese from the perspective of language applied. The literature review focuses on bicultural and bilingual, and Chinese as heritage language. The guiding research questions is: How Language applied strategy used by 2 and 1.5 generations Chinese immigrants in Australia to develop their hybrid identity. Data was drawn from a focus group collected from three participants. It is grounded in the third space theory. It suggests that hybrid identity formation in Australia for young immigrants involves a fluid, diverse and complex cultural identity formation. The experiences of bilingual applied shape their hybrid identities. Australia as a third space provides the ground for constructing interplays between culture, environment, and community.

Hepatitis B-related stigma among Chinese immigrants living with hepatitis B virus in Australia: A qualitative study.

Chinese immigrants in Australia are overrepresented among people with chronic hepatitis B virus (PWCHB) but experience poor access to healthcare. Given the historical discriminatory policies against PWCHB in mainland China, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of stigma and discrimination surrounding hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Chinese immigrants originally from mainland China. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted by a researcher with a Chinese background in 2019-2020. Sixteen Chinese immigrants living with HBV were recruited across Sydney and Melbourne through advocacy and support groups. This study is positioned in social constructionism. Data analysis was informed by the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework that highlights the interaction between layered stigmas. This study revealed the historical, social and cultural construction of HBV-related stigma among PWCHB and demonstrated how this stigma was manifested across socioecological levels in China and Australia. Findings show that HBV-related stigma has mostly been driven by knowledge deficits about HBV and fear of HBV infection. HBV-related stigma was mostly demonstrated around social isolation including isolation imposed by family and the community and employment restrictions in the Chinese workplace. In the Australian context, HBV-related stigma was related to the ethnic and cultural background of PWCHB, and primarily occurred as anticipated stigma in the community and in employment. The findings provide significant insights for crosscutting research and policy endeavours to develop and test cross-disciplinary initiatives that more broadly address the complex lived realities of Chinese immigrants living with hepatitis B virus.

How and Why Diets Change Post-Migration: A Qualitative Exploration of Dietary Acculturation among Recent Chinese Immigrants in Australia.

Chinese immigrants living in Western countries are at increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Dietary acculturation has been implicated as a potential contributor, but little is known about why diets change post-migration. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore how and why diets change post-migration for Chinese immigrants living in Australia. Eleven participants undertook semi-structured interviews exploring and comparing their diets when they lived in China to their post-migration diets. Thematic analysis revealed that participants exhibited changed social structures of meal preparation, and made unacknowledged dietary changes, such as recipe modification, to maintain their traditional Chinese diet post-migration. Implications of both deliberate and unrecognized dietary changes post-migration include connections to increased risk for metabolic disease post-migration.

Chinese Immigrants’ Coronary Heart Disease Knowledge Levels: Total and Domain

Immigrants are reported to have difficulty with coronary heart disease (CHD) self-care, likely arising from low knowledge of their disease and the secondary prevention required and difficulties with English language. This study assesses CHD knowledge and associated factors in Chinese immigrants in Australia understand the

Home is Where the Heart is: Identity and Belonging Among Older Chinese Immigrants in Australia.

The concept of home encompasses relationships people develop with the physical, familial, social, and cultural environments in which they are embedded. It is through navigating these relationships that immigrants negotiate their identity and belonging in the settlement country. Yet, a significant gap exists in the current knowledge of the process through which a sense of home is created and experienced by immigrants as they undergo acculturation. This conceptual paper addresses this knowledge gap by elucidating the process through which they develop identity and belonging in a foreign land through constructing a sense of home. Drawing on environmental gerontology as a primary framework and incorporating acculturation theories as well as evidence from previous research, this paper shows how older Chinese immigrants build a sense of home through decorating their houses with culturally meaningful objects, growing culturally reminiscent plants, and maintaining intergenerational relations and social networks in Australia. This paper argues that immigrants' sense of home is always in-between cultures, regardless of how long they have lived outside their homeland, because home is where the heart is. Building a sense of home in a foreign land therefore involves continuing reintegration of people and place in both the old country of origin and the new country of settlement.

Recreating a sense of home in a foreign land among older Chinese immigrants in Australia

AbstractThis study focuses on the ageing experiences of older Chinese immigrants in Australia. The life course perspective provides a framework to investigate the main aspects relating to a sense of home and to analyse how family, relational, and societal factors influence older Chinese immigrants' construction of a sense of home in a transnational context. This paper is based on qualitative data from 30 in‐depth interviews with older Chinese immigrants living on the Gold Coast, Australia. This study reveals that family relationships, independence, and social interactions contribute to constructing a sense of home among older Chinese immigrants. Findings elucidate the interrelations between personal adaptive actions and mindsets, Chinese organisations, and social policies in the life experiences of older Chinese immigrants in Australia. This study suggests that policymakers need to be more sensitive to the significance of culture; it also highlights the need to further support existing cultural services that contribute to developing a sense of home for older Chinese immigrants.

Discursive negotiation of the self in situated talks – first-generation Chinese immigrants in Australia and their sociocultural group membership

ABSTRACT The identity of first-generation immigrant groups is a highly complex construct, evolving and changing in response to a host of social, psychological, and contextual factors. This paper explores how first-generation Chinese immigrants from mainland China position and negotiate themself in relation to the perceived sociocultural groups they affiliate with. Drawing on Bucholtz and Hall’s (2005) sociocultural linguistic approach to identity and interaction, we address the issues of language use and identity through examining the emergent and spontaneous use of indexical references of self in the interviews with first-generation Australian Chinese immigrants. The findings reveal that the immigrants’ senses of self are fluid and dynamic, influenced by their desire of ethnic continuity and personal affectional ties. This points to the usefulness of the discursive approach of indexicality for studying identity.

How and Why Diets Change Post Migration for Chinese Immigrants

Abstract Objectives Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is disproportionally greater in Chinese immigrants in Australia compared with in China. Dietary acculturation is implicated as a CVD risk factor. This study aimed to explored Chinese immigrants’ perspectives on how and why their diets change post migration. Methods An exploratory qualitative interview study was undertaken with adult Chinese migrants who had been living in Australia for less than 10 years. Semi-structured interview questions were designed to draw out participants’ experience, emotions and thoughts of dietary change. Interviews were conducted via Zoom in participants’ preferred language (Mandarin or English). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English for analysis. A constructivist approach was adopted to thematically analyse the interviews. Results A total of 11 participants were interviewed (n = 3 males and n = 8 females) and ranged in age from 22–68 years old with length of residence in Australia ranging from 1–8 years. Key themes pertaining to how and why dietary changes that occur post migration are: that breakfast is the first meal to change from Chinese to Western style, convenience is one of the primary drivers of change in dietary habits, dinner is most frequently maintained in Chinese style, cultural identity is an important influence on dietary habits, and awareness of dietary change among Chinese immigrants is low as evidenced through statements such as “not much has changed” when asked about differences in their diet, but further probing identified that their post migration diets were quite different from their diets in China. Participants also reported a lack of general healthy eating knowledge and lack of nutrition education from China. Conclusions Though diets of Chinese immigrants to Australia change post migration, particularly in relation to breakfast, due to convenience, awareness of this change is low. Low awareness of dietary change along with lack of knowledge relating to healthy eating, could be a mechanism for adoption of unhealthy dietary patterns that may contribute to increased chronic disease risk for Chinese immigrants over time. Funding Sources No funding to declare.

Chinese Australians’ Attitudes towards the Stigma of Mental Illness: Analysis Using Structural Equation Modelling with AMOS

Aim: The quantitative study aims to elucidate the relationship between contact factor with someone who has a mental illness, cultural values, and differential approaches towards mental illness (depression versus schizophrenia) among 138 Chinese immigrants in Australia. The study results aim to provide community mental health literacy program to immigrants in Australia that seek to lessen their attitudes of stigma towards mental illness. Method: A cross-sectional survey (General Population Questionnaire) comprising of 118 items) was administered to 138 Chinese immigrants (96 female and 42 male) to examine their Cultural Affiliation (Chinese versus Australian Identification). Factor analyses were conducted to examine the discriminant validity of the subscales. Findings: Chinese Australians endorsed more Chinese Culture Identification than Australian Culture Identification. These immigrants endorsed more highly collectivist values than individualistic values. Stigma factors (social distancing and negative stereotyping attitudes) correlated negatively with readiness to give support to the depression vignette than the schizophrenia vignette. Pearson’s correlation matrix and Hierarchical Regression Analyses when cultural values and vignette approaches were considered as influencing factors—details of the subsequent findings will be reported in another paper. Conclusion: Several Structured Equation Models suggested that attitudinal approaches towards someone with a mental illness and stigma are associated with Contact level and Cultural Affiliation. Contact is better placed as a mediating factor.

Transnational immigrant entrepreneurship: effects of home-country entrepreneurial ecosystem factors

PurposeThe purpose of this theoretical paper is to explore how immigrants' home-country entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) factors impact transnational immigrant entrepreneurs (TIEs). The paper draws on the dual embeddedness and transnational entrepreneurship theories to explore how the home-country EE influences transnational immigrant entrepreneurship (TIE).Design/methodology/approachThis research adopted a qualitative case study methodology involving content analysis of secondary data. It analyzed data set against the existing EE framework to constructively explore the home-country effects.FindingsThe findings reveal that all home-country EE domains and associated factors affect TIEs. The paper established six testable propositions with regard to the home-country EE domains: accessible market, human capital, social culture, infrastructure and business support and government policies. A number of new factors were identified for each home-country EE domain. Finally, the paper provided future research directions.Research limitations/implicationsCare has to be taken in generalizing the findings from this research due to the small sample of contemporary Chinese immigrants in Australia and New Zealand. The propositions also require empirical testing.Practical implicationsThe findings contribute to the TIE literature by identifying new factors of the home-country EE and presenting testable propositions. The results have impact on immigration policies and programs.Social implicationsTransnational immigrant entrepreneurship can be a pathway to help immigrants to integrate into mainstream society. The findings from this article indirectly contribute to immigrant social development.Originality/valueThis original article fills research gaps by analyzing how home-country EE elements affect TIE. It reveals that the EE framework is effective for investigating it.

Acculturation is associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk-factors among Chinese immigrants in Australia: Evidence from a large population-based cohort.

Background Acculturation is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-factors among immigrants in Western countries. Little is known about acculturation effects on CVD risks among Chinese immigrants, one of the fastest growing populations in Western countries. In this study, we aim to examine the association between acculturation and CVD risk-factors among Chinese immigrants, Australia's third-largest foreign-born group. Methods We accessed a subsample of Chinese immigrants ( n = 3220) within the 45-and-Up Study (2006-2009). Poisson regression model with a robust error variance examined the association between acculturation and CVD risk-factors, and prevalence ratios were reported, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. Indicators of acculturation included age at migration, length of Australian residence and language spoken at home. The outcomes were self-reported CVD diagnosis and six risk-factors (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity). Results Mean age of Chinese participants was 58.9-years (SD = 10.7) and 55.5% were women. Chinese migrating to Australia aged <18 years were significantly more likely to report diabetes (prevalence ratio = 1.71; p < 0.01), overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio = 1.49; p < 0.001) and ≥ 3 CVD risk-factors (prevalence ratio = 1.47; p < 0.05) compared with those who migrated after 18-years-old. Chinese immigrants who lived in Australia for ≥ 30 years were significantly more likely to have diabetes (prevalence ratio = 1.84; p < 0.01) and ≥ 3 CVD risk-factors (prevalence ratio = 1.84; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences by language spoken at home. The association between indicators of acculturation and CVD risk-factors appeared to differ by sex. Conclusion Greater acculturation was associated with adverse CVD risk-factors among Chinese immigrants in Australia.

Acculturation is Associated with Higher Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Chinese Immigrants in Australia: Evidence from a Large Australian Cohort

Acculturation is Associated with Higher Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Chinese Immigrants in Australia: Evidence from a Large Australian Cohort

Cultural issues and other factors that affect self-management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) by Chinese immigrants in Australia

AimsTo investigate the influence of cultural and other factors on diabetes self-management behaviors among Australian Chinese immigrants with T2D. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and October 2015. The questionnaire comprised several validated scales examining aspects of self-management practice including medication adherence, acculturation and demographics. Participants were recruited from the community and Diabetes Center of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Sydney, Australia. ResultsOf the 139 participants, a majority were female, from mainland China, with high school level education and a mean age of 64 (SD±12) years. Participants were found to have poor self-management practices generally but moderate medication adherence. 13.7% of participants reported incorporating TCM into their diabetes treatment and 24% reported a cultural shame surrounding a diabetes diagnosis. Higher levels of acculturation predicted better medication adherence, whereas stronger beliefs in TCM predicted poorer medication adherence. Gender, education level and duration of diabetes were also predictors of diabetes self-management behaviors. ConclusionsThis study provided insight into cultural influences on diabetes self-management and medication taking among Chinese immigrants in Australia. Health care providers should take these into account in delivering culturally sensitive care and advice to achieve better health outcomes.

Psychological well-being of older Chinese immigrants living in Australia: a comparison with older Caucasians.

Few current studies explore psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants in Australia. The study addressed this gap and provided preliminary data on psychological well-being among this group. Four indicators, namely depression, anxiety, loneliness, and quality of life, were used to present a comprehensive picture of psychological well-being. Participants were two groups of community-dwelling older people, specifically 59 Chinese immigrants and 60 Australian-born people (median age=77 and 73, respectively). Data were collected through standardized interviews. The Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire were used to measure depression, anxiety, loneliness, and quality of life, respectively. Chinese participants' median quality of life score was higher than the scale mid-point, indicating relatively high levels of quality of life. However, 10% exhibited symptoms of depression, 6% had symptoms of anxiety, and 49% felt lonely. Compared to Australian participants, Chinese participants reported poorer quality of life and higher levels of loneliness. Importantly, the difference in quality of life remained when the impact of socio-demographic factors was controlled for. This study was the first to use multiple indicators to explore psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants in Australia. Its results suggest that their psychological well-being might be worse than that of Australian-born people when using loneliness and quality of life as indicators. In particular, loneliness is a common psychological problem among this group, and there is a need for public awareness of this problem.

Network Marketing Businesses and Chinese Ethnicity Immigrants in Australia

This study adopts two theoretical perspectives, Social Cognitive Theory and Theory of Planned Behavior, to examine a model of network marketing business participation by Chinese immigrants in Australia. A structural equations modeling analysis showed that the social environment within a network marketing organization positively influences the self‐efficacy of Chinese network marketers and their desire to seek opportunities. These factors positively influence the actions undertaken by network marketers, and subsequently, impact positively on their performance outcome.

Searching for a sense of place: Identity negotiation of Chinese immigrants

This paper reports the identity negotiation experiences of first, second and 1.5 generation Chinese immigrants in Australia. Integration into the Australian larger society requires first generation immigrants to learn or improve their English language skills and adapt to the host cultural practices to the extent possible so that they can be accepted as a member of the mainstream society. Second and 1.5 generation immigrants have the advantage of being well-equipped with knowledge of the host cultural practices and English language skills as they were either born in the host country or migrated at a young age. However, as they grow up, they realize that it is not possible for people with Chinese ancestry to be 100% “Australian”, no matter how well they speak the English language or how closely they follow the Australian way of life. Their physical appearance sets them apart from the Anglo-Australians at first sight. Consequently, they also need to perform to the expectations of both cultural groups, and this is what they do on a daily basis. Drawing upon data from 35 semi-structured interviews with first, second and 1.5 generation Chinese in Australia, this study illustrates that shifted identity, rather than blended identity is favoured by majority of respondents as they navigate through the bicultural environment to “fit in” different contexts. The Findings from this study highlight that identification with a culture does not necessarily suggest belonging to that culture. Identification and belonging are not the same. Those findings are discussed in light of implication for theories on identities and acculturation.

Minority goals for interaction with the majority: Seeking distance from the majority and the effect of rejection on identification

AbstractFour studies investigated the conditions under which minority group members respond to group‐based discrimination with increased identification with their group. We propose that minorities' interaction goals should serve as a moderator: seeking distance from the majority might keep minority identification alive in the face of perceived discrimination. These predictions were tested correlationally in Study 1 among Chinese immigrants in Australia (sample 1a) and children of rural migrant workers in a Chinese city (sample 1b). In Studies 2 and 3, perceived discrimination was manipulated among Romanian immigrants in France and Polish immigrants in Scotland. In Study 4, both minority goals and perceived discrimination were manipulated among a sample of international students in Australia. Results showed that only for those who were inclined to seek distance from the majority, minority group identification increased when discrimination was high compared with low. Discussion focuses on the way that seeking distance might be an important strategy for coping with discrimination. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Difference makes the heart grow fonder: Perceiving intergroup difference enhances minority groups’ willingness to integrate

Three studies examined how minority group members’ acculturation strategies are shaped by the extent to which they perceive differences between their cultural values and the values of majority society. In line with the creative distinctiveness hypothesis (Spears, Jetten, Scheepers, and Cihangir, 2009), perceived difference among country migrant workers in China was positively associated with endorsement of an integration strategy (Study 1). Among Chinese immigrants in Australia (Study 2), a positive association was found between perceived difference and willingness to integrate only among those who were less identified with the superordinate category. Study 3 manipulated Asian international students’ perceived cultural value difference between their group and the Australian majority, and replicated Study 2 findings. Especially among those who are less committed to the superordinate group, then, knowing how the minority group is different can facilitate willingness to integrate into the majority culture.

A Case Study on the Perception of Aging and Participation in Physical Activities of Older Chinese Immigrants in Australia

This qualitative study explores how older Hong Kong ChineseAustralians perceive aging and to what extent this perception affects their participation in physical activities. The main methods used were in-depth interviews with 22 participants ranging in age from 60 to 91 years. Interviews were translated from Chinese (Cantonese) and transcribed into English. Content analysis was used to find recurring themes from the interview data. The main findings indicate that the perception of aging is to some extent influenced by culture. Some participants defined aging as being measured in years, and others defined it by the state of one's physical health, appearance, and capacity to continue fulfilling one's social roles. These perceptions strongly influenced their preferences for and participation in physical activities. Acknowledging the fact that Chinese-speaking people are not culturally homogeneous, this article makes some recommendations to health service providers with regard to the development of appropriate physical activity programs.