Who am I? The Experience of Identity Change of Chinese Independent Migrants in Canada

Summary

I am looking for participants, currently between the ages of 20-29, who independently migrated to Canada between the ages of 13-17 from China or other countries or regions where the dominant culture is Chinese (e.g., Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan). Minors who independently migrate to a new country unaccompanied by their parents are sometimes termed in the academic literature as “parachute kids.” I am interested in exploring how these individuals understand the influence of their independent migration experiences during childhood on their identity development during emerging adulthood. The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of independent migration, enabling us to provide more effective counselling services to individuals who are currently or have formerly experienced independent migration.

Eligibility

Currently recruiting participants: Yes

Eligible ages: 20 to 29

Accepts healthy participants: Yes

Inclusion criteria:

1) Arrived unaccompanied by both parents to Canada and whose parents did not immigrate to Canada during their K-12 schooling years
2) Were born in the People’s Republic of China or other countries or regions where the dominant culture is Chinese (e.g., Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan)
3) Arrived in Canada between the ages of 13 and 17
4) Completed/graduated from high school in Canada, and spent a minimum of 1 year in Canada
5) Currently between 20 and 29 years of age
6) Currently residing in Canada
7) Speak English fluently
8) Willing to speak to their experience in detail

Exclusion criteria:

1) Participants who are not fluent in English will be excluded from this study as we do not have the funds to hire interpreters and have materials translated.
2) Participants will be excluded if they did not arrive unaccompanied to Canada by both parents and if their parents immigrated to Canada during their K-12 schooling years. Further, participants will be excluded if they are not from the People's Republic of China or other countries or regions where the dominant culture is Chinese, as this study seeks to understand the experience of independent migration from the perspectives of Chinese participants.

Participate

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Method of contact

Collection of personal information
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Additional information

Contact information

For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact: Alysha Chan Kent, Werklund School of Education, Department of Educational Psychology at (604) 767-8875 or by email: alysha.chankent@ucalgary.ca As supervised by: Dr. Sharon E. Robertson, PhD., R.Psych, Faculty Professor, Werklund School of Education. Tel: (403) 220-6542, Email: sroberts@ucalgary.ca

Principal investigator:

Sharon Robertson

Clinical trial:

No

REB-ID:

REB21-1866