Commentary: Charting Future Directions for Research on Asian American Child Development

Abstract

Asian Americans are now the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States, but developmental research on them lags behind that of African Americans and Latinos. It is advocated that developmental scientists working with Asian American families focus on early developmental processes, on the cultural aspects of family socialization and dynamics that may contribute to child outcomes, and on capturing the complexity of factors that promote cultural adaptation and strengths in particular contexts. The theoretical frameworks, methodological recommendations, and timely themes highlighted in this special issue will motivate scholars, interventionists, and policymakers to find ways to better understand and meet the needs of the growing number of Asian American children and their families.