Abstract
This qualitative study examined the perspectives of Hmong immigrant parents in the United States on their parenting and on their children’s need for socioemotional support. Eleven parents (mothers and fathers) participated in semi-structured interviews where they were asked questions related to their childhood, their immigration stories, their parenting practices and values, and their responses to their children’s emotional needs. Five main themes were identified during the coding process, revealing how these Hmong immigrant parents' upbringings in Laos, immigration to the United States, and acculturation to the dominant culture, have challenged, yet influenced, their usual parenting methods. Findings show that these Hmong immigrant parents express love, support, and concern towards their children through actions such as encouraging their children to go to school and succeed, providing a home for them, and through monetary support. This was a notable finding because the research surrounding Hmong families and parental support tend to focus on the perspective of their children growing up in the United States. The implication for this study suggests a need for understanding the cultural perspectives of Hmong immigrant parents in the United States as they navigate the challenges of parenting in a new context, while upholding their cultural values and traditions. By having a well-rounded perspective of how Hmong immigrant parents support and provide for their children’s emotional needs, practitioners may be better informed on how to appropriately support Hmong family’s needs. Furthermore, this cultural perspective could mend the misunderstandings in the parent-child relationship.