Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers

This qualitative study explored language brokers’ conceptualizations of their roles and responsibilities within the family in Sydney, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain retrospective accounts of language brokering experiences from 14 self-identified language brokers, 10...

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Main Authors: Renu Narchal, Rachel Hembrow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2371536
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author Renu Narchal
Rachel Hembrow
author_facet Renu Narchal
Rachel Hembrow
author_sort Renu Narchal
collection DOAJ
description This qualitative study explored language brokers’ conceptualizations of their roles and responsibilities within the family in Sydney, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain retrospective accounts of language brokering experiences from 14 self-identified language brokers, 10 females and four males aged between 19 to 49 years (Mean age = 31) who started brokering between ages 7 to 16 (M = 11). Participants were from varied ethnic and socio-cultural backgrounds (Turkish, Lebanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese and Greek/German). Thematic analysis identified three primary themes: “Hidden Carers: When Parent-Child Roles are Reversed”; “Lost Childhoods: Personal Sacrifice for the Good of the Family”; and “Protecting Parents: Language Brokers as Custodians of Information.” Findings revealed that language brokering constitutes a form of hidden caregiving that carries with it several ramifications for the individual and their family. These findings have important implications for future research and policymakers working towards developing culturally responsive interventions that improve the health and wellbeing of language brokers and the resettlement experiences of migrants and their families.
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spelling doaj-art-3f620e59147a4b9d945bdca4effb4f2b2025-08-20T01:55:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.23715362371536Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokersRenu NarchalRachel Hembrow0Western Sydney UniversityThis qualitative study explored language brokers’ conceptualizations of their roles and responsibilities within the family in Sydney, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain retrospective accounts of language brokering experiences from 14 self-identified language brokers, 10 females and four males aged between 19 to 49 years (Mean age = 31) who started brokering between ages 7 to 16 (M = 11). Participants were from varied ethnic and socio-cultural backgrounds (Turkish, Lebanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese and Greek/German). Thematic analysis identified three primary themes: “Hidden Carers: When Parent-Child Roles are Reversed”; “Lost Childhoods: Personal Sacrifice for the Good of the Family”; and “Protecting Parents: Language Brokers as Custodians of Information.” Findings revealed that language brokering constitutes a form of hidden caregiving that carries with it several ramifications for the individual and their family. These findings have important implications for future research and policymakers working towards developing culturally responsive interventions that improve the health and wellbeing of language brokers and the resettlement experiences of migrants and their families.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2371536language brokeringfamily health and wellbeingparent-child relationshipsparent-child role reversalmigrationhidden careinformal careyoung caregivers
spellingShingle Renu Narchal
Rachel Hembrow
Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
language brokering
family health and wellbeing
parent-child relationships
parent-child role reversal
migration
hidden care
informal care
young caregivers
title Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
title_full Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
title_fullStr Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
title_full_unstemmed Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
title_short Hidden care: a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
title_sort hidden care a qualitative exploration of the roles and responsibilities of language brokers
topic language brokering
family health and wellbeing
parent-child relationships
parent-child role reversal
migration
hidden care
informal care
young caregivers
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2371536
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