Behind the Disempowering Parenting: Expanding the Framework to Understand Asian-American Women’s Self-Harm and Suicidality

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors introduce the concept of a fractured identity which, combined with low self-worth, characterizes Asian American women who self-harm. ABCDG (disempowering) parenting precipitates low self-worth and a fractured identity, and the authors present several qualitative interviews that illustrate the seven distinct factors that lead to such parenting: mental and physical health concerns, marital discord, sociocultural linguistic barriers, job-related stress, a fragile support network, trauma from the country of origin, and vague transmission of personal history. These risk factors often coexist, and are prompted or exacerbated by immigration and post-immigration social and cultural isolations and contribute to conflictual family dynamics. This chapter verifies that daughters of Asian immigrants struggle to balance individual desires against a sense of filial obligation and the burden of upholding cultural traditions. The internal conflict increases the likelihood of poor self-image, negative mental health, risky behavior, and suicidality. Integrating these specific factors in their intervention content, the authors point to online mental health intervention and tele-mental health services for immigrant parents as one response to the urgent needs of this community. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)