The Loneliness Disease: Challenges of FirstGeneration Chinese-American Parents of Autistic Children

KELSEY WU, Harvard College '23

THURJ Volume 12 | Issue 2

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder characterized by social communication differences, repetitive
behaviors, and restricted interests, affects about 1 in 59 children in the United States. While numerous studies examine the
experience of parenting an autistic child in the United States, few investigate that of first-generation Chinese-American
parents of autistic children. These parents often carry mainland Chinese perceptions of autism, including cultural stigma
and social pressure surrounding the disorder. As a result, they face unique challenges while reconciling their Chinese
impressions of autism parenting with the unfamiliar American experience. Differences in the age of diagnosis, linguistic terminologies, special education and intervention opportunities between China and the United States, and effective
parental social support networks also present additional challenges for first-generation Chinese-American parents. This
paper examines the challenges that this community faces in the parenting process and proposes a policy—one that utilizes
the anonymity of social networks—for American social service providers. In order to facilitate these parents’ navigation
of the American service system, American social service providers should cultivate more culturally effective services.