1 of 1

Background

Early and Prolonged parent-child separation (occurring between ages 0-6 for at least 6 months) is a global crisis that has profoundly affected the mental health and well-being of children and families. Insufficient research has been conducted with separated-reunited low-income Chinese immigrant families, who sent their US-born infants ("satellite babies") to China for extended family care and reunited with them before they reach school age. The present qualitative study explored child mental health based on key informative interviews from affected parent-child dyads, aiming to understand the potential impact of separation and inform future mental health research and services for these children.

Method

The present study involved key informative interviews (~60 mins) from 24 youth satellite babies (ages 12-17; Mean_age=14.3; N _female=12) and their primary caregivers (N=24 with 22 mothers) from Chinese immigrant families in the New England area of the United States. Recordings were transcribed, translated into English, and de identified. Five trained coders (interrater agreement =90%) coded the transcripts using codebooks developed informed by theories and the grounded theory approach in MAXQDA. We used both inductive and deductive analyses to capture themes in terms of negative and positive mental health conditions, as well as accessibility of mental health resources.

Results

Conclusions

Separated-reunited children exhibited both positive and negative mental health conditions, showing potential mental health disparities within the group. Research is need to examine factors (e.g., multilevel risk and protective factors during separation and reunification) related to these disparities.
Separated-reunited families have relatively limited access to professional mental health resources. Tailored mental health interventions and practices are needed to promote the mental health of separated-reunited children, especially those with serious mental health problems (e.g., a risk of suicide).

Acknowledgement: This research is funded by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD): K99MD017269

PI: Dr. Shaobing Su. Contact: Shaobing.Su@umassmed.edu

Mental Health of Separated-reunited Youth “Satellite Babies” in Chinese Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study with Parent-Child Dyads

Risa Yokoyama¹ Weiyi Fu² Xihan Yang³ Shaobing Su*³

�1 Columbia Business School, Columbia University, USA

2 Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College, USA

3 Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC), UMass Chan Medical School Department of Psychiatry, USA

*Corresponding author

Table 1 Negative Mental Health Conditions
Avoidance in Disclosure of Mental Health Challenges - Unlikely to Share Stress with Parents, Lack of Communication, Being Too Stressed to Share, and Being Too Busy to Open Up - n child =8(33.3%), n parent = 9(37.5%)) - Sample quote: “He has difficulty expressing the problem he's facing. He would get stuck and make various sounds on his own. There's always a kind of sound that makes you feel uncomfortable when he's doing something” (#13, mother with a child separated at 9 months old for about 2 years).� Social Withdrawal - “Invisible" in the Community, Lack of Social Reciprocity, Lack of Friends, and Inferiority. - n child =4(16.7%), n parent = 7(29.2%)� - Sample quote: “I'm basically kind of invisible in my community... I don't have a lot of trust for others who I just met... I have trouble speaking with others and I get really uncomfortable with other people.” (#027, female, 13 years old, separated for nearly 6 years) Externalized Problems - Electronic Device Dependence, Aggressive Behaviors, Physical Reactions (Nail Biting, Eating Problems), and Self-Injury - n child = 4(16.7%), n parent = 6(25%) - Sample quote: “So when I get mad, I like to throw things around. I have to clean them up anyways. Yeah, I don't hit people with them, I just throw things around. (#011, female, 13 years old, separated for 4 years) Internalized Problems - Sensitive or Uncontrollable Emotions, Anxiety, and Homesickness. - n child = 4(16.7%), n parent = 5(20.8%) - Sample quote: “I get super angry when I'm really upset and I just can't hear anything… I feel like I'm like drowning and I can't breathe at all.” (#27, female, 13 years old, separated nearly 6 years) - “It's just angry in my head…uncontrollably crazy, like, crazy angry. And then after that, I lose control." (#001, male, 14 years old, separated for 3 years)� Low-Quality Sleep - n child = 5(20.8%), n parent = 3(12.5%) - Sample quote: “I do have trouble falling asleep because I have insomnia.” (#002, male, 17 years old, separated for 5 years)

Table 2 Positive Mental Health Conditions
Positive Perception of General Mental Health Conditions - ~75% participants believed the child’s mental health status is healthy in general. - n child = 18(75%), n parent = 19 (79.2%)) - Sample quote: “I feel happy and relaxed most when I'm by myself or when I'm playing with my friends.” (#004, female, 15 years old, separated for 3 years) High Self-Esteem - n child = 6(25%), n parent = 7(29.2%) - Sample quote: “For the most part, I like myself. I mean, self-confidence is pretty good. I feel good about who I am.” (#029, male, 17 years old, separated for nearly 3 years) Healthy Social Engagement� - Subthemes: Seeking Emotional Support and Accompany; Sharing of Stress - n child = 15(62.5%), n parent = 16 (66.7%) - Sample quote: “I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings with them (parents), and it's really easy to have a conversation with them, and I can relate and connect to them.” (#031, male, 14 years old, separated for 2 years) High Quality of Sleep - n child = 17(70.8%), n parent = 16(66.7%) - Sample quote: "So honestly, I like I do have a really good sleep even though some stuff was stressing me out” (023, female, 13 years old, separated for 1.5 years)

Table 3 Accessibility of Mental Health Services
Helpful Mental Health Resources - Sub themes: Support from Schools/Teachers; Support from Professional Psychological Services - Sample quote: “My counselor kind of discusses it with me about it sometimes. And my social worker kind of understands me. She understands me. While my friends, some of them do understand me. Some of them don't. (#044, male, 12 years old, separated for 3 years) Limited or Unprofessional Psychological Services - Sample quote: “My daughter also saw a psychologist. I didn't like the psychologist she went to; his attitude was sharp, and I didn't appreciate how he treated my daughter. He didn't seem like a psychologist at all; it felt more like he was interrogating her, not providing guidance. I didn't like it, so we stopped going after a while.” (#025, mother of a child separated at 4-month old for about 1 years)