"Just act like you're okay" : An investigation of the experiences of South and Southeast Asian migrant caregivers in the context of the First 2000 Days in Australia

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dc.contributor.advisorDue, Clemence
dc.contributor.advisorTaylor, Amanda
dc.contributor.advisorSawyer, Alyssa
dc.contributor.authorAiyar, Ria
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Psychology
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractIt is well established in research and practice that the antenatal and postnatal period is a time when families require additional support. Recently, research has expanded focus to the First 2000 Days (conception to age five), recognising that families continue to need ongoing support for wellbeing and healthy child development. Thus far there is little research on this period that includes culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) migrant, refugee or asylum-seeker families. Additionally, the First 2000 Days are a key period to ensure healthy outcomes across the lifespan, especially for CARM groups who may experience greater wellbeing inequities. Therefore, this thesis considered South and Southeast (S/SE) Asian migrants, primarily in Australia. The overarching aim of this thesis was to investigate the wellbeing and parenting experiences as well as the help-seeking and support experiences of this group. Conceptual frameworks underpinning wellbeing and parenting were broad and guided by consideration of the key role of cultural background including collectivism. Health equity was also used as a guiding framework in relation to support and help-seeking. The research that forms this thesis comprised two studies presented across three papers. Study 1 (Paper 1), a systematic review, explored the wellbeing and support experiences of S/SE Asian refugee caregivers in the First 2000 Days in resettlement countries. Most included studies focused on women, highlighting wellbeing challenges including isolation and distressing healthcare experiences. The second study was a qualitative and interview-based to address the same thesis aim, focusing on Australia. Participants were S/SE Asian caregivers from migrant backgrounds (n=11 including nine mothers, one father, one grandmother), and service providers (n=22). This study led to two papers (Papers 2 and 3) analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Paper 2 explored how S/SE Asian mothers experienced parenting in a culture that was not their own, and the influences of these experiences on their wellbeing.
dc.description.dissertationThesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2025en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/146195
dc.language.isoen
dc.provenanceThis electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legalsen
dc.subjectFirst 2000 Days
dc.subjectmigration
dc.subjectwellbeing
dc.subjectparenting
dc.subjectculturally responsive care
dc.subjecthealth equity
dc.subjectqualitative
dc.title"Just act like you're okay" : An investigation of the experiences of South and Southeast Asian migrant caregivers in the context of the First 2000 Days in Australia
dc.typeThesisen

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