“Their Happiness Is My Happiness”--- Chinese Visiting Grandparents Grandparenting in the US

ABSTRACT

This study described the experiences of Chinese visiting grandparents caring for their grandchildren in the US and the implications of these experiences for grandparents’ well-being. We used a parallel mixed-method design. Qualitative interviews and structured surveys were conducted simultaneously and compared after analysis was complete. Thirty-five grandparents in New Haven, CT were surveyed, and thirteen of them completed in-depth interviews. Results showed that participants were motivated by their sense of obligation and concern for the offspring to come to the US and care for their grandchildren. The grandparents faced challenges of caregiving in a different cultural context, with different expectations about what caregiving is, and without supports of their home country. However, they described support from their spouse and their new community.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese visiting grandparents
• grandparenting
• familism
• well-being

Supplementary material

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