INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

Parental Stress and Its Influence on Emotional Well-Being Among

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Middle Eastern Countries: An

Empirical Study

Ms. Sincy Chacko¹, Ms. Kavya Vijayan (Assistant Professor)²

¹Centre for Distance and Online Education, Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, India

²Department of Psychology PG Studies, Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.101100044

Received: 24 November 2025; Accepted: 30 November 2025; Published: 10 December 2025

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of parental stress on the emotional well-being of Non-Resident Indian

(NRI) children living in Middle Eastern countries. The research sought to understand how parental stress,

coping mechanisms, and selected demographic factors shape children’s emotional adjustment in an expatriate

context. A sample of 101 respondents was chosen through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a

self-prepared standardized questionnaire and analyzed through multiple regression. The independent variables

included parental stress assessment, coping mechanisms, age, gender, country of residence, duration of stay in

the Middle East, number of children aged 5–16 years, and work status, while the dependent variable was child

emotional well-being. The regression model was statistically significant (R = .778, R² = .606, Adjusted R² =

.571, p < .001), showing that nearly 57% of the variance in child emotional well-being was explained by the

predictors. Parental stress and coping mechanisms were the strongest positive contributors, while gender,

duration of stay, and number of children also had significant effects. Age, work status, and current country of

residence were not significant predictors. The findings highlight that parental stress and coping play a central

role in shaping the emotional well-being of NRI children. The findings underscore the critical need for

targeted stress management programs and supportive interventions to promote healthier emotional outcomes

for expatriate children.

Keywords: Parental stress, NRIs, Emotional well-being, Middle East, Coping mechanisms, Regression

analysis

INTRODUCTION

Parenting is a challenging responsibility, further intensified when families live in expatriate settings. Non-

Resident Indian (NRI) parents in Middle Eastern countries often encounter unique stressors such as

occupational demands, cultural adaptation, financial strain, and the absence of extended family support. These

stressors influence not only the psychological health of parents but also the emotional adjustment of their

children.

Research consistently shows that parental stress impacts child emotional well-being through its effects on

parenting styles, emotional availability, and family interactions. Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969), Abidin’s

Parenting Stress Model (1992), and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979) provide a framework

for understanding these dynamics. This study investigates the influence of parental stress on child emotional

well-being in NRI families, aiming to identify key stress factors, coping mechanisms, and demographic

predictors.

While the NRI population in the Middle East continues to grow, there is limited research exploring how this

unique confluence of stressors affects the emotional health of their children. However, limited studies have

focused on NRI families in the Middle East, where socio-cultural and legal contexts differ substantially from

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

parental stress influence the emotional well-being of children (aged 5–16) among Non-Resident Indian (NRI)

families living in Middle Eastern countries?

Research Objectives:

1. To identify key stress factors affecting NRI parents and examine how work pressures, financial

burdens, cultural adaptation, and lack of social support contribute to parental stress.

2. To analyze the impact of parental stress on children's emotional well-being.

3. To explore the coping mechanisms used by NRI parents and assess their effectiveness.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Parental stress has been linked to negative child outcomes such as anxiety, behavioral problems, and reduced

emotional regulation (Bakoula et al., 2009). Graham and Jordan (2011) found that migration-related stress

impacts children’s psychological well-being, while Barreto et al. (2024) emphasized that interventions

reducing parental stress improve child socio-emotional health.

The Family Stress Model (Conger & Elder, 1994) highlights how economic strain heightens parental stress,

thereby undermining parenting quality. Similarly, The Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (Lazarus &

Folkman, 1984) is essential here, as it views stress as a dynamic interaction between the person and the

environment. Effective coping mechanisms whether problem-focused (e.g., managing finances) or emotion-

focused (e.g., seeking social support) are theorized to buffer the effects of stress. The present study tests this

mechanism, hypothesizing that effective parental coping will significantly mediate the relationship between

parental stress and child emotional well-being.

Parental stress is centrally defined by models like Abidin’s (1992) Parenting Stress Model, which posits that

stress arises from parent characteristics, child characteristics, and situational life events. For NRIs, the

situational context is highly complex, involving acculturation stress (Fang & Shi, 2018), and high-demand

work environments (Jamal, 1984). These expatriate pressures constitute chronic stressors that elevate the

parent's allostatic load (McEwen, 1993), directly impacting their capacity for supportive parenting.

Child emotional well-being encompasses the child’s ability to manage emotions, develop resilience, and form

secure attachments (Bowlby, 1969). For children in the Middle East, this is impacted by the transience of their

community and the lack of a stable Macrosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). When parental stress is high, the

resulting decrease in emotional support can lead to increased adolescent negative mood (Janssen et al., 2020)

and emotional difficulties.

While evidence from Western and Asian contexts is extensive, there is a research gap concerning NRIs in

Middle Eastern countries. This study addresses that gap by analyzing parental stress, coping mechanisms, and

their combined effect on children’s emotional health.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design:

A descriptive research design was employed to examine the relationship between parental stress and children’s

emotional well-being.

Sample:

The sample comprised 101 NRI parents (both fathers and mothers) residing in Middle Eastern countries with

children aged 5–16 years. Participants were selected using convenience sampling.

Instrument:

INTERNATIONAL JOURRNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

Data Analysis:

Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and sccale scores. Reliability

was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of

child emotional well-being.

RESULTS AND FINDINGS

A multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which Parennt Stress Assessment,

Coping Mechanism, Age, Gender, Current Country of Residence, Duration of Stay in thee Middle East, Number

of Children aged 5–16 years, and Work SStatus predicted Child Emotional Wellbeing.

The overall model was statistically signifiicant, R = 0.778, R² = 0.606, Adjusted R² = 0.5

1, F (8, 92) = 17.661,

llbeing was explained

alysis was conducted

p < .001. This indicates that approximately 57% of the variance in Child Emotional W

by the predictors. The standard error of the estimate was 0.440. A multiple regression a

to examine the extent to which Parent Stress Assessment, Coping Mechanism, Age, Gender, Current Country

of Residence, Duration of Stay in the Middle East, Number of Children aged 5–16 yeears, and Work Status

predicted Child Emotional Wellbeing. The overall model was statistically significant,

Adjusted R² = 0.571, F (8, 92) = 17.661, p < .001. This indicates that approximately

= 0.778, R² = 0.606,

7% of the variance in

Child Emotional Wellbeing was explainedd by the predictors. The standard error of the esttimate was 0.440.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

ANOVA

The ANOVA confirmed that the regression model significantly predicts Child Emotional Wellbeing, F (8, 92)

= 17.661, p < .001, indicating that the model provides a better fit than a model with no predictors.

Regression analysis confirmed that parental stress significantly predicts child emotional well-being. The

overall model was statistically significant, R = 0.778, R² = 0.606, Adjusted R² = 0.571, F (8, 92) = 17.661, p <

.001.Non-significant predictors: age, work status, and country of residence.

DISCUSSION

The findings align with Abidin’s Parenting Stress Model (1992), which highlights that stress arises from

interactions among parent, child, and situational factors. High stress undermines parenting quality, leading to

emotional and behavioral difficulties in children (Bakoula et al., 2009). In NRI families, financial pressure,

cultural adaptation, and lack of extended family support exacerbate stress levels, consistent with the Family

Stress Model (Conger & Elder, 1994).

The study also supports Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, where coping

strategies act as buffers against stress outcomes. Parents with stronger coping skills reported better child

emotional well-being, showing that resilience-building practices are crucial. The findings confirm that parental

stress significantly affects child emotional well-being. High stress levels reduce emotional availability and

consistency in parenting, while effective coping strategies buffer these effects. The results align with Abidin’s

Parenting Stress Model and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, highlighting the interconnectedness

of family and environmental factors.

Interestingly, coping mechanisms emerged as the strongest predictor, suggesting that interventions to

strengthen parental coping may significantly improve children’s outcomes. Gender and duration of stay also

influenced child well-being, indicating cultural and adjustment factors. Families with more children reported

lower child emotional well-being, possibly due to divided parental attention and resources.

This evidence underscores the need for support systems such as counseling services, school-based

interventions, and community groups to strengthen family resilience in expatriate contexts.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that parental stress significantly undermines the emotional well-being of NRI children in

Middle Eastern countries. Effective coping mechanisms enhance resilience and mitigate these negative

outcomes. Policymakers, educators, and mental health professionals must prioritize interventions tailored to

expatriate families.

Limitations

1. Reliance on parent self-reports may introduce bias.

2. Sample size (n = 101) limits generalizability.

3. Cross-sectional design restricts causal conclusions.

4. Children’s own perspectives were not directly measured.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Future research should integrate children’s self-reports and longitudinal data.Stress management and parenting

workshops should be made accessible to expatriate families.Culturally sensitive community-based programs

may help mitigate stress and foster child well-being.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)

ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue XI November 2025

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