A Research of Chinese Study Mama Adjustment to Life in Singapore

[[abstract]]中文摘要 本研究主旨在探討中國陪讀媽媽在新加坡的生活適應，並且了解她們所獲得的社會支持以及安定生活的元素。本研究採質性研究之深度訪談法來收集資料，共訪談了六位在新加坡陪讀了一年至六年多的陪讀媽媽，訪談後針對所得資料進行分析，主要研究結果發現如下： 一、中國陪讀媽媽來新加坡的計劃主要是追求更理想的環境，她們所做的準備是收集信息、經濟的準備、程序上的安排和心理準備；並可以從中再歸納出五個研究發現，第一，陪讀媽媽主要關注在為孩子鋪設更美好的前景；第二，來新加坡之前收集信息的管道有限；第三，經濟準備不足的媽媽比作充足準備的媽媽佔較高比例；第四，尋找學校是首要處理而忽略孩子的英語駕馭能力；第五，陪讀媽媽普遍上心理準備不夠具體和深入。 二、中國陪讀媽媽的生活適應主要為家庭生活的適應、人文生態的適應以及其他方面的適應，分析發現主要有五方面的適應最有困難，第一，住房的適應帶給陪讀媽媽很大的挑戰；第二，孩子學習的適應帶給陪讀媽媽很大的苦惱；第三，經濟的適應帶給陪讀媽媽極大的調整與付出；第四，環境與文化的適應帶給陪讀媽媽莫大的無奈與受傷；第五，工作上的適應需要陪讀媽媽調整心態。 三、中國陪讀媽媽期望得到社會的支持，以及促使她們的生活安定的元素這兩個面向，主要歸納出四個結果：第一，得到的社會支持主要來自個人和民間團體；第二，期待得到社會大?與官方的支持以擴展生存空間； 她們最大的適應動力為孩子的學業成果；第四，宗教信仰是陪讀媽媽在適應不平衡時得慰藉的管道。 研究者根據上述研究結果加以討論，並依據此結果提供若干建議以作?新加坡中國陪讀媽媽、專業助人工作者以及未來研究者的參考依據。[[abstract]]Abstract The purpose of this research is to understand how Study Mamas – Chinese women who accompany their children to Singapore to receive primary and secondary-level education – adapt to the life in Singapore and to examine what support they receive from the society to settle down in Singapore. This research employs in-depth interviews to collect data and background information. A total of six Study Mamas, who have been in Singapore for one to six years, had been interviewed. The results and conclusions of the post-interview analysis are summarized below: I. The Study Mamas are primarily in search of better environment when they come to Singapore. The preparation that they made before the migration includes gathering information, garnering financial resources, logistical arrangement, and mental preparation. There are five main discoveries from the study: (a) Study Mamas’ main concern is building a bright future for their children; (b) The available channels for gathering information prior to traveling to Singapore are limited; (c) There are more Study Mamas who do not have sufficient financial resources than those with sufficient financial resources; (d) Priority has been given to searching for a school while the children’s English proficiency has been neglected; (e) Mentally, the Study Mamas have generally not made concrete, nor in-depth, preparation to face the challenges that lie ahead. II. The Study Mamas have to adapt to life in Singapore in a few aspects: family daily life, social cultural aspect, and others. The research reveals five areas where challenges were faced: (a) The place of dwelling and living environment present huge challenges; (b) The difficulties the children faced in adapting to school life in Singapore is a source of frustration; (c) Making adjustment to the financial situation requires significant sacrifices; (d) Environmental and cultural adjustment is a source of pain; (e) Adapting to their own working life requires them to change their expectation. III. The Study Mamas look to the society for support in achieving normalcy in their life in Singapore. In this respect, the research reveals four key elements: (a) The Study Mamas receive most support from individuals and ethnic organizations; (b) They hope that the general public and government agencies could support their quest to expand their living space; (c) They derive the energy to adapt to life in Singapore from their children’s academic results; (d) They derive comfort and spiritual support through religion when faced with imbalances in their life in Singapore. Through discussing and analyzing the above research results, the researcher aims to make recommendations that will serve as references for Study Mamas, professional helping workers, and future researchers.[[note]]碩