More than 10% of children and adolescents worldwide experience recognizable mental health challenges. If these challenges go unnoticed and untreated, they can persist or evolve into more severe issues in adulthood. This makes the prevention of mental health problems in children a critical focus on a global scale. At the same time, the influx of immigrants into Western nations like Australia brings cultural complexities that can affect both parenting styles and the mental well-being of their children.
Parents are instrumental in shaping their children’s mental health. They play a vital role in fostering self-esteem and teaching coping mechanisms, both of which can mitigate anxiety and depression. Consequently, immigrant parents may greatly benefit from targeted parenting assistance as they adapt to their new surroundings, enabling them to better support their children’s emotional health. Governments are recognizing the importance of addressing children’s mental health and are allocating resources for awareness and treatment initiatives. For instance, in 2022, the Australian government allocated A$40.6 million to enhance access to the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), a research-backed online resource designed to promote mental health and well-being for children up to age 11.
In 2023, Australia’s headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation launched the Partners in Parenting online program, catering specifically to parents of adolescents aged 12 to 18. This program allows parents to enroll and complete interactive modules at their convenience. Similar initiatives exist across other Western nations, yet many immigrant families still struggle to access these resources after relocating.
Our research aimed to explore the parenting practices of immigrants and their effects on the mental health of their children. Gaining insights into these dynamics can help tailor parenting programs to better support migrant parents as they navigate the challenges of raising children in a new environment. We analyzed data from 56 studies conducted in seven different countries regarding immigrant parenting and its correlation with children’s mental health. Our findings reveal that the influence of parenting on mental well-being is largely comparable for immigrant and non-immigrant families.
For instance, children who receive nurturing support from their parents, and who feel understood even when they are apart, tend to enjoy better mental health outcomes. On the flip side, children raised in households characterized by frequent conflict—whether between parents or between parents and children—are more vulnerable to mental health issues. A particularly relevant concern is “acculturative conflict,” which arises when children and parents face cultural differences, leading to tension over parenting practices versus the expectations of Australian society. This type of conflict can severely impact the mental health of immigrant children.
Acculturation happens when individuals encounter a new culture and try to incorporate its values, beliefs, and practices into their lives. Both parents and children undergo this process as they adapt. Parents typically navigate acculturation through work and adult interactions, while children often absorb the new culture’s language and values more quickly, thanks to their experiences in daycare and school.
Children place immense importance on fitting in with peers and feeling a sense of belonging, sometimes more than adults do. When children adapt to a new culture at a faster pace than their parents, it can create friction within the family. For instance, parents might express their love through practical provisions like food and education, whereas children may yearn for more emotional warmth, such as hugs or verbal affirmations—displays of affection that they observe from their friends’ families. This discrepancy can lead to feelings of disappointment or resentment in children. Parents may impose strict expectations to maintain family honor, but children might find these standards excessive and unreasonable. There is often a clash where parents desire their children to adhere to cultural traditions, while young people view their parents as overly conservative.
To address these challenges, those developing parenting programs should collaborate closely with immigrant communities to ensure the programs meet their specific needs. Such partnerships could increase parents’ willingness to seek assistance and enhance the mental health of their children. Tailoring effective parenting strategies can help immigrant families mitigate acculturative conflicts and provide better emotional support. Achieving this requires increased governmental backing and investment in these initiatives.
Additionally, immigrant parents should strive to engage in open conversations with their children about how they prefer to express and receive love. For example, parents might ask whether their child feels most valued through verbal praise, gifts, or shared experiences. By explaining the rationale behind rules and expectations, parents can help children understand their purpose, and by acknowledging their children’s viewpoints—even in disagreement—parents can foster more harmonious relationships. Family discussions where both parents and children contribute to setting guidelines (such as screen time or bedtimes) and determining the consequences for not adhering to those guidelines can further strengthen family bonds.