Master of Arts, Miami University, 2014, Psychology

Research on parental emotion socialization and its relation to child functioning among ethnic minority groups in the United States is scarce. This study compared reports of Asian Indian immigrant and White American mothers' responses to their children's negative emotions and examined relations among mothers' responses, child emotion regulation strategies, and child outcomes. Indian immigrant (n = 34) and White American (n = 38) mothers completed self-report measures of their responses to children's emotions and child functioning, and children completed self-report measures of emotion regulation and social competence. Indian immigrant mothers were more likely than White American mothers to report responding to their children's emotions with overriding and nonsupportive responses. However, only in the White American group, mothers' nonsupportive responses to children's emotions and child emotion dysregulation were positively related to child behavior problems. Moderated mediation analyses were performed with these variables but were nonsignificant. Results are discussed in the context of cultural influences on emotion socialization and its relation to child functioning.

Committee: Vaishali Raval Ph. D. (Advisor); Elizabeth Kiel Ph. D. (Committee Member); Aaron Luebbe Ph. D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2014, Psychology

Parenting of children with developmental disorders (DDs) in immigrant families has been understudied in the literature. This study sought to qualitatively describe the unique experiences and challenges of Asian Indian parents of children with DDs in the United States (U.S.) Open-ended interviews were individually conducted with 15 parents (8 mothers, 7 fathers) whose children were diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Autistic Disorder, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified. Nineteen themes were generated that were grouped into six domains: Cultural explanations, community response, and migration; impact on the self and family; sources of stress; sources of support; a unique parenting approach; and hopes and fears for the future. Parental descriptions of cultural and religious explanations of the disability and subsequent response of the community to the child's disability were consistent with literature on stigma of mental illness and disability among Asian Indian communities (e.g., Sovani, 2009). Many parents compared their early experiences of raising a child with a DD in India with their experiences after migration to United States. They also described their personal acceptance of the disability and impact on their well-functioning children and on their marital relationship. Similar to parents of children with DD from other cultural groups, Asian Indian parents in this sample described family support, broader social awareness and acceptance, and access to resources as sources of support (Gupta, 2007) and the lack of these factors as contributing to stress. A fairly unique parenting approach emerged in reference to the child with a DD that included adjusting academic aspirations for the child, taking a practical, “one day at a time” approach, and efforts to pass on cultural heritage. Parents voiced concerns about the future care of their child when they would not be around as well as their hopes. Overall, the findings suggest the importance of atte (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Vaishali Raval Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Julie Rubin Ph.D. (Committee Member); Brooke Spangler Ph.D. (Committee Member); Robert Burke Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Psychology