| It has been long known that cultural and language barriers affect the utilization of social and rehabilitation services and the family-professional relationship. Despite the rapid increase of Chinese families in the United States, this population continues to receive limited attention in research literature. This study investigated the relationship between parents' level of acculturation and their family quality of life in Chinese immigrant families with developmentally delayed children. Seventy surveys were sent, and 1 father and 29 mothers with a mean age of 48 (SD = 10, range = 30--75) returned the survey. The response rate was 42.9%. Demographic information, cultural identity, service need and receipt, cooperative partnership with professional workers, and family quality of life information was obtained.; Results indicated that in this group, parents' level of acculturation did not significantly correlate with their perceived family quality of life, the amount of services the families need and receive, or parents' cooperative partnership with professional workers. Parents who reported services provided by the professional workers as more important and more satisfactory also tend to rate higher on the importance and satisfaction ratings of the Family Quality of Life Scale. Family income, children's level of disability and behavior problems were not statistically significant predictors of family quality of life in this group of participants. Parents of children with more behavior problems rated the services provided by the professional workers as more important than parents of children with less behavior problems. Satisfaction with the services provided was not significantly correlated with children's behavior problems. Implications of findings were discussed in terms of future research with Chinese immigrant families with developmentally delayed children, and service planning for this unique group. |
