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Cited by 0Migration, Health and TraumaRacial and Ethnic Identity ResearchFamily and Disability Support Research

Parenting Stress in US Immigrant Families: The Role of Social Support, Economic Stability and Immigration Status

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Rafieifar, Maryam, Huang, Hui, Adeleke, Christian, Cañizares, Catalina·2025·Child & Family Social Work
DOI 10.1111/cfs.70093
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Abstract

Parenting in immigrant families is shaped by legal status, social support and economic conditions. Immigration‐related stress may increase parenting stress, but the pathways and moderators of this link remain underexplored. We surveyed 318 legally present immigrant parents in the United States through a national Qualtrics panel in 2023. Guided by Acculturative Stress Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, we tested mediation and moderated mediation models using structural equation modelling. Key measures included immigration stress, parenting stress, social support and economic self‐sufficiency. Parents with temporary immigration status reported significantly more immigration stress than those with permanent or naturalised status. Immigration‐related stress was a mediator of the relation between immigration status and parenting stress. Although social support was associated with lower overall parenting stress, it did not buffer against immigration‐related stress. Men and those using government benefits reported heightened parenting stress, possibly due to provider pressure, stigma or hindrance in reaching support systems. Financial security did not predict parenting stress. The study reveals that legal vulnerability is a strong predictor of immigrant parents' stress. Programs must extend beyond individual supports to address the structural factors that affect families with temporary legal status.

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Crossref · 10.1111/cfs.70093

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. American Immigration Council, 2025, After Day One: A High‐Level Analysis of Trump's First Executive Actions
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Authors
Rafieifar, M., Huang, H., Adeleke, C., & Cañizares, C.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas at Arlington (US)
  • New York University (US)
Corresponding author
Rafieifar, Maryam
ORCID
Venue
Child & Family Social Work
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2025-11-29
ISSN
  • 1356-7500 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2206
DOI
10.1111/cfs.70093
OpenAlex
W4416816146
Cited by
0
References
37
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Child & Family Social Work (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
parental stress, immigrant families, immigration status, social support, economic self-reliance, immigration stress, acculturative stress, conservation of resources theory

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