To maintain or conceal one’s cultural identity? Chinese American parents’ ethnic–racial socialization during COVID-19.

Journal of Family Psychology, Vol 38(1), Feb 2024, 26-37; doi:10.1037/fam0001169Ethno-racially minoritized parents’ ethnic–racial socialization may center on encouraging their children to maintain or conceal their ethnic–racial identity, particularly during the period of heightened racism of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the underlying mechanisms that could explain Chinese American parents’ specific ethnic–racial socialization practices and the role of children’s developmental stage are not well understood. The present study examined: (a) the association between Chinese American parents’ racial discrimination experiences and their engagement in maintenance of heritage culture and concealing Chinese heritage and connection ethnic–racial socialization; (b) the mediating and moderating roles of psychological well-being and family support; and (c) variations in these associations among parents with children of different developmental stages. The participants comprised 470 Chinese American parents (Mage = 43.7 years, SD = 6.4; 79% mothers) of 4- to 18-year-old children in the United States. Findings revealed that Chinese American parents’ racial discrimination experiences were associated with greater engagement in both maintenance of heritage culture and concealing Chinese heritage and connection ethnic–racial socialization practices. Furthermore, parents’ racial discrimination experiences were negatively associated with their psychological well-being, whic...
Source: Journal of Family Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research