Caring responsibilities, relationship dynamics and wellbeing among migrant families of children with disability in Norway

• The article informs how family relationships form one of the primary levels and bases for health and wellbeing of migrant families of children with special care needs. • The article contributes knowledge on the intersection between special needs, family dynamics, welfare needs and wellbeing among migrant families. • The article emphasizes co-production and user-participation in research. Migrant families of children with special care needs face more challenges in managing their caring responsibilities, family relationships and individual lives. The overall aim of this article is to explore the experiences of migrants with caring responsibilities (MCRs) and the strategies they use in managing these responsibilities at the family level. Three coresearchers were actively involved in qualitative participatory research based on coproduction approaches in qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants. The discussions and conclusions are elevated by the Family Theories, which view the family as an interdependent system, where the strength and/or limitations of its individual members are related to the family situation. Family relationships and individual sacrifices proved to be a sustainable adaptive strategy to manage care and individual wellbeing for a majority of MCRs. These findings underscore the coexistence of strain and resilience in managing care responsibilities and well-being among MCRs and their families. We conclude that a deeper understanding of family dynamics involving MCRs is crucial for social policy and professional practice in identifying and maximizing family resources to ensure family-oriented health and social care. This may form the basis for better health and well-being among MCRs and the foundation for strengthening how they interact with society and welfare services outside the family setting.