Abstract:
While there have been many studies on the post-immigration adjustment of Chinese immigrants and many studies of divorce in both Western countries and China, little research has been conducted on the divorce experiences of Chinese immigrants. This study investigates the experiences of divorce of Chinese immigrants who live in New Zealand. It includes two projects – an interview study with Chinese immigrants who separated and/or divorced in New Zealand, and a study with Chinese professionals who work with Chinese immigrants. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 Chinese immigrants and 12 professionals. Ground theory methodology was used to guide the data analysis and the constant comparative method was employed to analyse the data. A number of themes emerged across the two research projects. Based on the findings, a proposed model to represent the experience of divorce of Chinese immigrants in New Zealand was developed. The results suggested that Chinese immigrants experienced serious difficulties in adjusting to life in New Zealand, including the inability to work in a previous profession. They employed a number of strategies, such as upgrading job skills, working at nonskilled jobs, and resorting to living as an astronaut family, to cope with these difficulties. These adjustment and coping experiences, including post-immigration challenges, the loss in social status, and the astronaut arrangement, appeared to put serious pressure on their marriages and increased marital conflicts. Despite facing serious marital problems, many Chinese couples felt it was difficult to make the decision to divorce because of their Chinese values around family and negative views of divorce. In this regard, the acceptance of divorce in New Zealand and the availability of social benefits for single parents appeared to let them feel more comfortable to make the decision in New Zealand. The results also suggest that the separation created more difficulties for the Chinese immigrants. These included further loss of financial security, having to cope alone with their own adjustment difficulties and parental responsibilities, and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. To cope with these difficulties, separated parents who remained in New Zealand focused on the well-being of their children. This child-centred adjustment approach appeared to help them manage their daily life difficulties and coparenting. It also appeared to help them in accessing support and developing an identity as a self-reliant single parent. Overall, although marital breakdown brought Chinese immigrants persistent financial difficulties and in many cases a sense of failure, their success in meeting their children’s needs and in developing a single parent lifestyle appeared to help them achieve a sense of self-growth. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to existing studies on the post-immigration adjustment, particularly marital and family adjustments, of Chinese immigrants and on divorce in the general population in both Western countries and China. The limitations of the study, along with future research endeavours, are also discussed.