Traditionally, research on the impact of immigration has been conducted from a psychological perspective, whereby individuals’ acculturation status has been measured and associations made with outcomes such as physical and mental health status. Relatively little research has adopted a qualitative approach in order to understand how individuals, much less families, experience the immigration process.
Using a resilience-focused approach, the present study explores how migrant and refugee families from four Asian ethnic groups experienced immigration, and the barriers to and facilitators of a positive settlement experience, employing qualitative methods; focus group discussions and family interviews.
In Phase One of the study, 16 focus groups were conducted with 104 participants – 52 adults and 52 young people aged 16 to 25 years. In Phase Two, interviews were conducted with 30 members of eight families. Family groups ranged in size from two to six members.
Analysis of the focus-group discussions and family interviews highlighted the influence of discrimination, social support, language and communication, and employment and education on the settlement experience. While all the families faced similar challenges, irrespective of ethnic group, the degree of impact these factors had on the settlement experience differed. We argue, therefore, that differences amongst families are a function of family resilience, particularly the strengths of the connections between family members and those of the family to the community and wider society. We conclude that the family-resilience theory offers a useful way of understanding families’ settlement experiences and issues that could be addressed, which would result in better experiences for families migrating to New Zealand.
Purpose
Traditionally, research on the impact of immigration has been conducted from a psychological perspective, whereby individuals’ acculturation status has been measured and associations made with outcomes such as physical and mental health status. Relatively little research has adopted a qualitative approach in order to understand how individuals, much less families, experience the immigration process. There is also a paucity of research using such approaches to identify the factors that facilitate a positive settlement experience. The present study takes a resilience focused, ecological approach (see, for example, Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In order to understand the influences on the quality of immigrants’ settlement experiences, it recognises that individuals are members of families and that families are situated within communities, which are part of wider society. We hoped that by studying the settlement experiences of a range of families we would be able to determine what contributes to a positive settlement experience for families who have migrated to New Zealand.
Methodology
The study was conducted in two phases, with participants from each of four immigrant ethnic groups (Chinese, Korean, Indian, and a group comprising Southeast Asians and Asians with refugee background). The first phase consisted of a series of focus group discussions with adults and youths, and was intended to scope and identify significant issues concerning the settlement of Asian immigrant families in New Zealand. This initial phase aimed to guide the development of a research tool for the second phase of the study. The second phase entailed a series of in-depth family interviews that aimed to explore and expand upon the issues raised in Phase One.
