A Phenomenological Study of Parentification Experiences of Asian American Young Adults

The term 'parentification' describes role-reversed family processes when children provide care to their parents and family. Given the fact that race and ethnicity are among the least considered factors in the past research on parentification, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of parentification of young Asian American adults within their sociocultural context using the contextual therapy theory. Eight individuals (five identified as Hmong, two as lu Mien, and one as Filipino), seven females and one male, ages ranging from 24 to 29, participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis from which the predominant themes of early and extensive parentification experiences as children of immigrant parents, strong influences of cultural expectations, and lost childhood and identity emerged. Furthermore, the study participants complied with gender-based cultural role expectations to help their families survive. Clinical implications and study limitations are discussed.