The mediating role of social capital in the host country: The experience of first-generation mainland Chinese mothers with overseas partners

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the experience of first-generation mainland Chinese immigrant astronaut wives in developing social capital in the destination country---Canada. I used key informant and snowball sampling to recruit 7 astronaut wives living in Vancouver, Richmond, and Burnaby. Based on the findings, I argue that the mediating role of social capital acts as a buffer to the adverse effects of social exclusion. Participants who developed social capital reported that they had a greater sense of belonging in either the Chinese or mainstream community. Also, they reported that more social capital enabled them to be less vulnerable to social exclusion. The intersectionality of oppression and privilege influence how Chinese astronaut wives locate themselves in the structural context. Increased economic capital positively influenced a sense of social capital and of belonging within the Chinese community, although it did not necessarily influence the sense of social exclusion from the dominant English-speaking community. I identify language skills and cultural differences as the major obstacles to Chinese astronaut wives integrating into English-speaking community. Finally, I offer recommendations based on the values and principles of community psychology.