Acculturation and risk for child maltreatment in the Hmong community
Author(s):
Mouanoutoua, Vang Leng
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : California School of Professional Psychology - Fresno, 1992.
Pages:
152
Language:
English
Abstract:
This study explored the risk for child abuse in Hmong parents. The Hmong were recent refugees from Laos who have experienced difficulties adapting to life in the United States. The subjects were 132 Hmong parents in the California Central Valley. Two Acculturation Scales, measuring the degree of American and Hmong values, were used to derive two orthogonal dimensions. This resulted in four groups of adaptation: bicultural (high Hmong, high American), Americanized (low Hmong, high Americanized), traditional (high Hmong, low Americanized), and alienated (low Hmong, low Americanized). It was predicted that acculturation status would be associated with different types of distress factors on the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory. In this sample, the CAP clinical score did not significantly differentiate self-reported abusing from nonabusing parents nor did it significantly differentiate among the four acculturation groups. This indicates that the CAP may not be a valid measure of risk for child abuse in this Hmong sample. In terms of acculturation, low education was a strong predictor of Hmong traditional values, whereas time in the U.S. was predictive of the scores on the Americanization scale. Discriminant function analysis suggested that the alienated group consisted of highly educated, older females who reported more interpersonal problems with family. The bicultural group, on the other hand, appeared to consist of older males with a lower level of education and less time in the U.S. This group reported more rigid attitudes toward parenting. The Americanized group, with higher levels of education and less time in the U.S., reported no significant distress or rigid parenting practices. Similar to the bicultural group, the traditional individuals, who tend to be older Hmong, revealed rigid views on parenting. Intervention programs for Hmong parents should address their overwhelming stress and acceptable forms of disciplinary methods prescribed by the laws. These programs should deal with family problems of the defensive, alienated individuals and rigidity issues of the traditional and bicultural Hmong.