Parenting Beliefs and Practices of Immigrant Chinese in the Midwestern United States: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Guided by the developmental niche framework, this ethnographic study aimed to explore immigrant Chinese parenting beliefs and practices in the Midwestern United States. Nine immigrant Chinese parents (eight mothers and one father) living in two Midwestern states were interviewed for their caretaking practices, expectations for children, understanding of cultural influences on parenting, and perceived challenges and resources in the community. Qualitative thematic analyses revealed five themes of immigrant Chinese parenting in the Midwest, including (1) teaching children Chinese language and culture; (2) integrating American and Chinese parenting; (3) communicating expectations with children; (4) adjusting parenting in the Midwestern context; and (5) maintaining connections to Chinese families and friends. Findings emphasized the dynamic nature of parenting in the shifting contexts and highlighted the importance of including settings, childrearing customs, and the unique caregiver psychology in immigrant parenting studies. Limitations and implications for future research were discussed.