The voices of Chinese American parents during COVID-19: Recommendations for addressing anti-Asian racism and supporting adolescents in school.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in anti-Asian sentiment, discrimination, and hate crimes, which have consequences for Asian American students and their families. As school districts prepared to reopen in Fall 2021, discussions and plans largely emphasized preventing infection and disruptions to learning. Asian American families' discrimination experiences and their recommendations for schools to address possible COVID-19-related racial bullying and discrimination have been overlooked. The present study is based on semistructured interviews conducted between April and June 2020 with 47 Chinese American parents with adolescents ages 12-17 years. Thematic and content analyses revealed significant parental concerns about adolescents' experiences with bullying and discrimination as well as a widespread fear for family safety. Parents' school recommendations reflected their desire for school administrators and staff to take a firm stance against COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination while treading carefully on race topics for fear of singling out Asian American students. This study emphasizes contextual factors that influence adolescents' experiences of racial discrimination during the early stages of the pandemic and advocates for a more holistic approach to addressing students' learning and psychological well-being that elevates the voices of impacted families. What is the public significance of this article?The present study illustrates Chinese American parents' heightened concerns about family safety and adolescent racial discrimination during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Xenophobia and related violence during COVID-19 have effects on adolescents' lives and school adjustment beyond the pandemic. Our report of parents' recommendations for schools in addressing anti-Asian racism following the COVID-19 lockdown highlights the need for incorporating family voice in the implementation of culture responsive school intervention practices and policies that advance equity and social justice.

Racial–ethnic socialization among Asian American families with preadolescent children.

“…Recruitment and data collection were completed over 2 weeks in October 2021, a time when many children had returned to in-person school for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. With the transition back to in-person schooling, some Chinese American parents were worried that their children may experience anti-Asian sentiments in their school environments (Liu et al, 2024), a worry that may be reflected in the responses of this survey. Centiment disseminated the online survey through a respondent dashboard (contacted via email or push notifications) and social media sites (e.g., Facebook).…”

Psychological Distress and Behavioral Vigilance in Response to Minority Stress and Threat among Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…As striking as these numbers are, they likely underestimate the actual prevalence of incidents as AAPI individuals are significantly less likely to report experiences of victimization than individuals of other racial and ethnic backgrounds [ 19 ]. As a result, many Asian American families have voiced concerns regarding the safety of their children and the potential discrimination and bullying that may persist within their schools and communities [ 20 , 21 ].…”