Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Theoretical Perspectives on Asian American Youth and Families in Rural and New Immigrant Destinations

  • Chapter
Rural Ethnic Minority Youth and Families in the United States

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

Abstract

The Asian American population has skyrocketed in recent years with growth rates currently outpacing all other ethnic/racial groups in the USA. Yet, Asian Americans remain understudied in the literature, and virtually nothing is known about the Asian youth and families who are increasingly settling in new immigrant communities and rural areas of the USA. This chapter addresses this literature gap by providing a theoretical discussion of some of the complex variables that should be considered when conceptualizing the development of Asian American youth and families in rural and new immigrant destinations. A brief review of historical migration patterns and the changing demographics of Asian American immigrants is followed by an outline of key individual, community, and culturally based factors that uniquely shape development among emerging and rural settlement sites. Topics for future research, including implications for education, policy, and research, are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alba, R., & Nee, V. (2003). Remaking the American mainstream: Assimilation and contemporary immigration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Armenta, B. E., Lee, R. M., Pituc, S. T., Jung, K. R., Park, I. J., Soto, J. A., et al. (2013). Where are you from? A validation of the Foreigner Objectification Scale and the psychological correlates of foreigner objectification among Asian Americans and Latinos. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 19, 131–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asian American Federation. (2014). The state of Asian American children. New York: Asian American Federation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atav, S., & Spencer, G. A. (2002). Health risk behaviors among adolescents attending rural, suburban, and urban schools: A comparative study. Family and Community Health, 25, 53–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, R. (2005). New immigrant communities in the North Carolina Piedmont Triad: Integration issues and challenges. In E. M. Gozdziak & S. F. Martin (Eds.), Beyond the gateway: Immigrants in a changing America (pp. 57–86). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee, K., & Kiang, L. (2012). A narrative-linguistic approach to understanding Asian American adolescents’ discrimination experiences. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonacich, P. (1972). Norms and cohesion as adaptive responses to potential conflict: An experimental study. Sociometry, 35(3), 357–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonilla-Silva, E. (2002). We are all Americans! The Latin Americanization of racial stratification in the USA. Race and Society, 5(1), 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). Making human beings human. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, D. E., & Fuligni, A. J. (2014). Extracurricular participation among adolescents from immigrant families. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, J. S., Barber, B. L., Stone, M., & Hunt, J. (2003). Extracurricular activities and adolescent development. Journal of Social Issues, 59(4), 865–889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espiritu, Y. (1992). Asian American panethnicity: Bridging institutions and identities. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, C. B. R., Smokowski, P. R., & Cotter, K. L. (2014). Individual characteristics, microsystem factors, and proximal relationship processes associated with ethnic identity in rural youth. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 5(1), 45–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forrest, T. M., & Brown, L. A. (2014). Organization‐led migration, individual choice, and refugee resettlement in the US: Seeking regularities. Geographical Review, 104, 10–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuligni, A. J., & Pedersen, S. (2002). Family obligation and the transition to young adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 856–868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia Coll, C., Crnic, K., Lamberty, G., Wasik, B. H., Jenkins, R., Garcia, H. V., et al. (1996). An integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children. Child Development, 67(5), 1891–1914.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goto, S. G., Gee, G. C., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2002). Strangers still? The experience of discrimination among Chinese Americans. Journal of Community Psychology, 30, 211–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschman, C., & Massey, D. S. (2008). Peoples and places: The new American Mosaic. In D. S. Massey (Ed.), New faces in new places: The changing geography of American immigration (pp. 1–21). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, D., Rodriguez, J., Smith, E. P., Johnson, D. J., Stevenson, H. C., & Spicer, P. (2006). Parents’ ethnic-racial socialization practices: A review of research and directions for future study. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 747.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hune, S. (2002). Demographics and diversity of Asian American college students. New Directions for Student Services, 97, 11–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khandelwal, M. (2002). Becoming American, being Indian: An immigrant community in New York City. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L. (2008). Ethnic self-labeling in young adults from Chinese American backgrounds. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 97–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., & Fuligni, A. J. (2009). Ethnic identity and family processes in adolescents with Latin American, Asian, and European backgrounds. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 228–241.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., Harter, S., & Whitesell, N. R. (2007). Relational expression of ethnic identity in Chinese Americans. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 277–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., & Luu, J. (2013). Concordance in self and ascribed ethnic labels among Asian American adolescents. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 4, 93–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., Perreira, K. M., & Fuligni, A. J. (2011). Ethnic label use in adolescents from traditional and non-traditional immigrant receiving sites. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 719–729.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., Peterson, J. L., & Thompson, T. L. (2011). Ethnic peer preferences among Asian American adolescents in emerging immigrant communities. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 754–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., Witkow, M. R., & Champagne, M. (2013). Normative changes in ethnic and American identity and links with adjustment among Asian Adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 49, 1713–1722.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, L., Yip, T., Gonzales-Backen, M., Witkow, M., & Fuligni, A. J. (2006). Ethnic identity and the daily psychological well-being of adolescents from Mexican and Chinese backgrounds. Child Development, 77, 1338–1350.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinefuchi, E. (2010). Finding home in migration: Montagnard refugees and post-migration identity. Journal of International and Intercultural communication, 3(3), 228–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, V., Elder, G. H., Jr., & Whitbeck, L. B. (1997). Religious involvement among rural youth: An ecological and life-course perspective. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 431–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuk, K., & Lichter, D. T. (2010). New Asian destinations: A comparative study of traditional gateways and emerging immigrant destinations (Doctoral dissertation).

    Google Scholar 

  • Laosa, L. M. (1990). Psychosocial stress, coping, and development of Hispanic immigrant children. In F. C. Serafica, A. I. Schwebel, R. K. Russell, P. D. Isaac, & L. B. Myers (Eds.), Mental health of ethnic minorities (pp. 38–65). New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. M., Jung, K. R., Su, J. C., Tran, A. G., & Bahrassa, N. F. (2009). The family life and adjustment of Hmong American sons and daughters. Sex Roles, 60, 549–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massey, D. S. (1985). Ethnic residential segregation: A theoretical synthesis and empirical review. Sociology and Social Research, 69(3), 315–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey, D. S., & Capoferro, C. (2008). The geographic diversification of American immigration. In D. S. Massey (Ed.), New faces in new places: The changing geography of American immigration (pp. 25–50). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLoyd, V. C. (1998). Children in poverty: Development, public policy and practice. In W. Damon, I. E. Sigel, & K. Renninger (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Child psychology in practice 5th ed., Vol. 4, pp. 135–208). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mistry, J., & Wu, J. (2010). Navigating cultural worlds and negotiating identities: A conceptual model. Human Development, 53, 5–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales, A., & Hanson, W. E. (2005). Language brokering: An integrative review of the literature. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 27, 471–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., & Iceland, J. (2011). Residential segregation in metropolitan established immigrant gateways and new destinations, 1990–2000. Social Science Research, 40(3), 811–821.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parrado, E. A., & Kandel, W. (2008). New Hispanic migrant destinations: A tale of two industries. In D. S. Massey (Ed.), New faces in new places: The changing geography of American immigration (pp. 99–123). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perreira, K. M., Chapman, M. V., & Stein, G. L. (2006). Becoming an American parent overcoming challenges and finding strength in a new immigrant Latino community. Journal of Family Issues, 27(10), 1383–1414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perreira, K. M., Fuligni, A., & Potochnick, S. (2010). Fitting in: The roles of social acceptance and discrimination in shaping the academic motivations of Latino youth in the US Southeast. Journal of Social Issues, 66(1), 131–153.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. (2012). The rise of Asian Americans. The Pew Hispanic Center and The Kaiser Family Foundation. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A., & Rumbaut, R. G. (2001). Legacies: The story of the immigrant second generation. New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potochnick, S., Perreira, K. M., & Fuligni, A. (2012). Fitting in: The roles of social acceptance and discrimination in shaping the daily psychological well‐being of Latino youth. Social Science Quarterly, 93(1), 173–190.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Qin, D. B. (2008). Doing well vs. feeling well: Understanding family dynamics and the psychological adjustment of Chinese immigrant adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 22–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, T., & Bennett, C. (2002). The Asian and Pacific Islander population in the United States: March 2002. Population, 20, 540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sellers, R. M., & Shelton, J. N. (2003). The role of racial identity in perceived racial discrimination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(5), 1079–1092.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, A. (2004). The rise of new immigrant gateways. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, A., Hardwick, S. W., & Brettell, C. B. (2008). Twenty-first century gateways: Immigrants in suburban America. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., et al. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62, 271–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Supple, A. J., & Cavanaugh, A. M. (2013). Tiger mothering and Hmong American parent–adolescent relationships. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 4, 41–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Supple, A. J., McCoy, S. Z., & Wang, Y. (2010). Parental influences on Hmong university students’ success. Hmong Studies Journal, 11, 1–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Supple, A. J., Graves, K., Daniel, S., Kiang, L., Su, J., & Cavanaugh, A. M. (2013). Ethnic, gender, and age differences in adolescent nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Death studies, 37(9), 830–847.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapp, N. (1989). The impact of Missionary Christianity upon marginalized ethnic minorities: The case of the Hmong. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 20, 70–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatman, A. W. (2004). Hmong history, culture, and acculturation: Implications for counseling the Hmong. Multicultural Counseling and Development, 32, 222–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatum, B. D. (2003). “Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” and other conversations about race. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, T. L., & Kiang, L. (2010). The model minority stereotype of Asian American adolescents: Experiences and links with adjustment. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 1, 119–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuan, M. (1999). Forever foreigners or honorary Whites? The Asian ethnic experience today. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census. (2010a). Retrieved June 8, 2014, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37183.html

  • U.S. Census. (2010b). Retrieved June 8, 2014, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37081.html

  • Waters, M. C., & Jimenez, T. R. (2005). Assessing immigrant assimilation: New empirical and theoretical challenges. Annual Review of Sociology, 31, 105–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yip, T., & Fuligni, A. J. (2002). Daily variation in ethnic identity, ethnic behaviors, and psychological well-being among American adolescents of Chinese descent. Child Development, 73, 1557–1572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Lisa Kiang

  2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Andrew J. Supple

Authors
  1. Lisa Kiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew J. Supple
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa Kiang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Dept. of Psychology, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

    Lisa J. Crockett

  2. University of Missouri, Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    Gustavo Carlo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kiang, L., Supple, A.J. (2016). Theoretical Perspectives on Asian American Youth and Families in Rural and New Immigrant Destinations. In: Crockett, L., Carlo, G. (eds) Rural Ethnic Minority Youth and Families in the United States. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20976-0_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation