Establishing a Parenting Program for Transnationally Separated Chinese Immigrant Families: Community-Based Pilot Program

Psychiatr Serv. 2020 Aug 1;71(8):868-871. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900624. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

Children who experience transnational separation (TS) from their parents, often referred to as "satellite babies," endure a relatively common but underdiscussed experience. To date, no evaluations of clinical interventions to specifically support transnationally separated families have been described. This column describes implementation of a group therapy pilot program for parents to address parenting and emotional concerns related to TS at a social services agency in Boston's Chinatown. Parent and therapist interviews indicated increased skills in negotiating parental feelings of guilt, shame, and regret caused by TS. These insights can guide practitioners and researchers who wish to address family separation in their communities.

Keywords: Chinese immigrant families; group therapy; parenting intervention; transnational separation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asian People / psychology*
  • Boston
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Family Health*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting* / psychology
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Program Evaluation
  • Psychology, Child
  • Social Isolation*
  • Social Work / organization & administration*