Journal Article

Does Social Support Promote Parental Nurturance among Asian American Immigrant Families? The Mediating Role of Parental Self-Efficacy

Gao, Qin, Mathew, Sunny, Zhai, Fuhua

2024

Overview

Social support is a valuable resource for immigrant parents to maintain their parental self-efficacy and fulfill childrearing duties. Using data from a sample of first-generation Asian American immigrant parents of multiple ethnic groups who were born outside the United States (N = 670), this study examined the relationships among social support, parental self-efficacy, and nurturing parenting behaviors. The analysis revealed that positive parenting behaviors, measured by parental nurturance, were positively associated with social support. When analyzing the sources of social support separately, we found a significant association between parental nurturance and family support, but no significant associations were observed with partner or friends’ support. Parental self-efficacy played a significant mediating role in the relationship between family support and parental nurturance. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and policy interventions that address the needs of first-generation Asian American parents, the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the U.S. Highlights This analysis encompassed the childrearing experiences of 670 Asian American immigrant parents who were foreign-born Parental self-efficacy and family support were positively associated with parental nurturance of children Parental self-efficacy was found to play a significant mediating role in the relationship between family support and parental nurturance Giving due attention to family support in service provision is vital for enhancing self-efficacy and nurturance among Asian American immigrant parents

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Asian Americans / Asian cultural groups / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Child and School Psychology / Child Rearing / Childrearing practices / Clinical medicine / Ethnic groups / Ethnicity / Families & family life / Family Involvement / Family roles / Family support / Immigrants / Minority groups / Nurturance / Original Paper / Parent-child relations / Parents / Parents & parenting / Psychology / Self Efficacy / Social Sciences / Social support / Sociology