Double Disadvantage? Wellbeing Among Vietnamese Migrant Parents of Autistic Children

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) parents of autistic children typically report poorer mental health, yet their subjective wellbeing (SWB) remains poorly understood. This study examined SWB among Vietnamese migrants (VM), one of Australia's more socioeconomically disadvantaged CALD groups, focusing on those raising autistic children, and compared them with general population (GP) parents.

Participants were 487 Australian-residing parents (M_age = 40.0, SD = 7.12, 71.9% female, 136 having an autistic child), including 197 VM parents. SWB was measured first, followed by mental health and demographic information, using an anonymous online survey available in English or Vietnamese. Hierarchical regression tested whether being VM, having an autistic child, or their interaction predicted SWB, controlling for income.

Having an autistic child was associated with lower SWB (b = -4.59, SE = 1.97, t = -2.23, p = .020) while being VM alone predicted higher SWB (b = 3.71, SE = 1.62, t = 2.29, p = .022). However, their interaction was significant and negative (b = -7.68, SE = 3.00, t = -2.56, p=.011), indicating that VM parents of autistic children had the lowest SWB among all comparison groups. This result remained significant even after controlling for stress and depression.

VM parents of autistic children experience markedly lower SWB than their GP counterparts, despite reporting lower psychological distress. These findings highlight culturally specific unmet needs and underscore the urgency of culturally responsive support for CALD families. Research using culturally-appropriate methodologies is essential to advance understanding of SWB in CALD communities.