Mediating and Moderating Processes in the Associations Between Chinese Immigrant Mothers' Acculturation and Parenting Styles in the United States

This study utilized a moderated mediation model to examine the following: (a) the mediating role of Chinese immigrant mothers' psychological well-being in the association between their acculturation and parenting styles and (b) the moderating role of mothers' ethnic identity resolution in the relation between their acculturation and psychological well-being. Participants included 210 first-generation Chinese immigrant mothers (Mage = 37.70; SD = 4.46) with young children (Mage = 4.54; SD = 0.88; 48% female) in the United States. Mothers reported on their acculturation toward the mainstream American culture, ethnic identity resolution, psychological well-being, and parenting styles. Chinese immigrant mothers' greater behavioral participation in American culture was associated with more positive psychological well-being. In turn, better psychological well-being in mothers was associated with less reported engagement in authoritarian parenting and more authoritative parenting. Moreover, mothers' ethnic identity resolution moderated the association between their American acculturation level and psychological well-being. Specifically, the indirect effect of mothers' American acculturation on their parenting styles through psychological well-being was stronger for mothers with higher levels of ethnic identity resolution. This study highlighted the importance of examining the interplay between ethnic identity and acculturation in promoting the psychological well-being and positive parenting of Chinese immigrant mothers in the United States. What is the public significance of this article? Our study findings suggest that Chinese immigrant mothers' greater behavioral participation in the mainstream culture and higher ethnic identity promotes their positive psychological well-being and parenting. Increasing immigrants' access to resources that simultaneously encourage their participation in the mainstream context and support their ethnic identity can promote their families' positive adjustment and overall development.