Cross-cultural perspectives on the meaning of family quality of life: Comparing Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

This study sought to examine and compare conceptualizations and descriptions of family quality of life, from the perspectives of Korean immigrant and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews from 13 Korean immigrant parents and 12 Canadian parents of children with autism living in BC, Canada was conducted. For Korean immigrant families, three themes were identified: family cohesiveness, value orientation, and acceptance from society. For Canadian families, themes comprising family interactions, support, emotional well-being, individual characteristics, and comparisons to other families were essential elements in defining their family quality of life. Findings highlight how cultural values and differences may translate into different conceptualizations of family quality of life and underscore the need for cross-cultural and diverse perspectives in the study and development of future assessment tools. Lay abstract The purpose of this study was to compare Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism in their perceptions and definitions of family quality of life. Interviews were done with 13 Korean immigrant parents and 12 Canadian parents of children with autism living in BC, Canada. For Korean immigrant families, three themes were identified: family cohesiveness, value orientation, and acceptance from society. For Canadian families, themes comprising family interactions, support, emotional well-being, individual characteristics, and comparisons to other families were essential elements in defining their family quality of life. The findings emphasize how differences in culture may impact how we understand and assess family functioning and quality of life. If research informing the development of these tools lacks cross-cultural perspectives, service providers and professionals may fail to address these families’ unique needs.