(PS4-52) Exploring the Lived Experiences of Chinese American Satellite Babies: A Preliminary Qualitative Analysis of the Phenomenon

Abstract Text: A transnational family is one in which immigrant children are temporarily sent back to the parents’ home country to be reared by extended family, oftentimes a grandparent. Typically, they are sent back as infants and are reunited with their biological parents around school age. The term “satellite baby” has been coined to describe these children. This phenomenon is often observed in a variety of immigrant households, particularly those associated with Chinese and other East Asian cultures, and is driven by two main factors: economic or career necessity, and the desire to preserve their original culture. Past research on satellite babies have exclusively focused on the perspectives of parents or teachers, thereby leaving a gap in understanding how this separation affects the parent-child relationship from the child’s point of view. This preliminary study will be the first to systematically explore the narratives of satellite babies and identify overlapping themes within their stories.

Participants will include 5 qualifying adults, ages 19 to 59 years, who are Chinese American satellite babies. Those interested in participating will complete a Qualtrics screener to ensure they meet inclusion criteria (e.g., sent to China between the ages of two and six months, reunited with biological parents in America between ages four to six years old). Once recruited, a semi-structured interview will be conducted with each participant. The interview will include open-ended questions developed to explore the satellite baby phenomenon and its perspectives, experiences, and impact on well-being.

This study will utilize Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) for the data analysis. Data will be organized using the method of open coding and axial coding, both of which are components of CQR. Once all transcripts have been coded by the core coding team, an external auditor (i.e., someone who was not involved in the data collection or coding process) will examine and check the stability of the themes across all transcripts and provide the coders with any feedback.

Due to its paucity in research, we do not yet understand the perspectives of what it means to be a satellite baby. By using a qualitatively sound method to gain in-depth information surrounding inner experiences, attitudes, and beliefs, results will illuminate a topic that long has been overlooked. Furthermore, as the first study to explore the narrative of satellite babies, results from this study will contribute to a greater understanding of the satellite baby phenomenon and begin to fill the gap in the literature. In line with the conference theme, results from this study will deepen our understanding of the effects that early childhood separation from one’s immediate family has on later mental health, guiding the development of future research and informing tailored treatment approaches for this population.