Being more than a mother: A qualitative study of Asian immigrant mothers in Australia who have children with disabilities.
Immigrant mothers of children with disabilities need culturally responsive opportunities to engage in non-caregiving valued activities.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Sim et al. (2021) talked to 15 Asian immigrant mothers in Australia. All had children with disabilities.
They asked how these mothers changed through caregiving and what helped them do valued activities beyond being a mom.
The team used long interviews and looked for common themes across the mothers' stories.
What they found
Mothers said they grew into new identities beyond just being caregivers.
They needed culturally safe spaces to pursue hobbies, work, or education.
Language barriers and stigma often blocked them from these opportunities.
How this fits with other research
Higgins et al. (2021) found Down syndrome caregivers want online support and local programs. Sim et al. (2021) extends this by showing immigrant mothers also need these supports, but must be culturally adapted.
Day et al. (2021) warned that giving technology without checking emotional fit can exclude adults with ID. Sim et al. (2021) mirrors this - simply offering activities without cultural fit can exclude immigrant mothers.
Cihon et al. (2018) showed international ABA teams need cultural systems thinking. Sim et al. (2021) brings this home - local services need the same cultural lens for immigrant families.
Kirby et al. (2022) proposed cultural reciprocity for behavior analysts. Sim et al. (2021) gives the parent voice that proves why this matters - without it, mothers stay isolated.
Why it matters
When you plan parent training or support groups, ask immigrant mothers what THEY value doing beyond caregiving. Then check if your program design fits their cultural world. This simple shift can turn isolated caregivers into engaged partners.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
INTRODUCTION: Studies on mothers of children with disabilities commonly report on their poor quality of life, high stress and mental health symptoms. However, the impact of caring for a child with disability on mother's everyday activities is less understood. The aim of this study is to explore the everyday activities of north-east and south-east Asian (NESEA) migrant mothers of children with disabilities, living in Australia. METHODS: Informed by a grounded theory approach, this qualitative study used purposive snow-ball sampling to recruit NESEA mothers who had immigrated to Australia for at least two years and had at least one child with disabilities. Eleven mothers were interviewed. Grounded theory analysis was used to derive themes. RESULTS: The overarching theme is 'Transforming'. Five subthemes emerged: 1) Journeying into the unknown; 2) Being the carer; 3) Being an immigrant; 4) Pillars of support; and 5) Empowered for everyday activities. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the everyday activities and roles of NESEA immigrant mothers who have children with disabilities, their enablers and barriers in engaging in their valued activities and their positive transformation. Findings underpin the importance of facilitating mothers' participation in activities and roles that promote their well-being. Service providers and policy makers can create opportunities for immigrant mothers to participate in health promoting activities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104060