Impact of kin and non-kin caregivers on the subjective well-being of children in Hong Kong during their middle childhood

This study explored how children’s subjective well-being during their middle childhood is affected by their kin (parents and grandparents/relatives) and non-kin (foreign domestic helpers) primary caregivers in Hong Kong. With the increasing labor participation and economic independence of women, hiring non-kin foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) as primary caregivers for children has become a prevalent practice in Hong Kong. However, only a few studies have explored how having non-kin FDHs as primary caregivers affects children’s subjective well-being. Furthermore, no previous study has investigated how children’s subjective well-being is influenced by their family social capital with kin and non-kin caregivers. This qualitative study aimed to fill such gap by exploring how kin and non-kin primary caregivers affect children’s subjective well-being in middle childhood from the perspective of children in Hong Kong. This exploratory study drew upon the theoretical framework of family social capital to understand how the relationship, involvement, and support of primary caregivers affect children’s happiness and life satisfaction. The findings were based on in-depth interviews with 18 children aged 9 to 11 years (primary 4 to 6) with different types of primary caregivers. Results highlighted that family and school-related activities, as well as academic and extra-curricular achievements, were the main sources of happiness and life satisfaction for children during their middle childhood, regardless of the types of primary caregivers. Family-related people and activities were particularly significant for children with kin-parent primary caregivers, while school-related people and activities were more influential for children with non-kin FDH primary caregivers. The positive impact of kin-parent primary caregivers was attributed to close relationships, high involvement, and constant support. Despite maintaining positive relationships, kin-grandparent/relative primary caregivers exhibited a diminished positive impact due to their lower involvement and limited support, which in turn can be ascribed to their physical and health limitations. The non-kin FDH primary caregivers exhibited the least positive impact given their distant relationship, low involvement, and lack of support for children. Moreover, the contractual relationship of non-kin FDH primary caregivers constrained their time to perform household duties and limited their meaningful interactions with children, and constant disagreements and arguments between parents and non-kin FDHs negatively affected children’s subjective well-being. These findings offered policy implications for enhancing children’s well-being. Policymakers should introduce intervention programs and educational activities to help caregivers improve the subjective well-being of children during their middle childhood.