Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Dawa Pelzang Edith Cowan University Dawa Pelzang 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Shantha Karthigesu Edith Cowan University Shantha Karthigesu
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
David Coall Edith Cowan University David Coall
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Holding the Fort: Caregiver Wellbeing of Left-Behind Children in Bhutan |
| Public title | Holding the Fort: Caregiver Wellbeing of Left-Behind Children in Bhutan |
| Background | Bhutan is faced with the issue of its working-age population emigrating either to pursue higher education or employment, leaving behind their children to be cared for by kin. Perth, Western Australia, has a growing community of temporary migrants whose children are in the care of kin in Bhutan. The impact of caring for children in the context of Bhutan’s unique cultural context has not been studied. This project proposes to collect and analyse preliminary data on the well-being of kin caregivers in Bhutan and parents residing in Perth, Western Australia. The findings from this project will add to the expanding body of research on the health impacts for older people caring for children. Additionally, it will establish a basis for further studies in Bhutan to explore how widespread emigration of young people affects family dynamics and well-being. |
| Objectives | 1 Investigate the perceived impact of providing care for left-behind children on the well-being of older kin carers in Bhutan through the use of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. 2 Investigate the well-being of Bhutanese parents of left-behind children living in Perth through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. |
| Study Methods | This study will employ a cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed methods design (Creswell, 2014). Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected simultaneously, analysed separately, and then merged to compare the findings (Creswell, 2014). This approach is suitable for this research as it affords a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem by utilising the strengths of both methodologies while employing a relatively small sampe size. Both the qualitative and quantitative data will be collected at one go. The purposively selected participants of 10 caregivers and 10 parents will be responding to the open-ended questions, followed by semi-structured questionnaires. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | This study will investigate how caring for left-behind children affects the well-being of kin carers in Bhutan and their parents in Perth, Western Australia. Data collected will be analysed to understand both the benefits and challenges faced by caregivers of children whose parents live in Perth, Western Australia. To the author’s knowledge, this will be the first study exploring the well-being of kin caregivers of left-behind children in Bhutan. The findings from this project will contribute to the growing field of study on the health implications for older people caring for children. In addition, it will lay the foundation for further research in Bhutan to understand the implications of widespread emigration of young people on family dynamics and wellbeing and inform the strengthening of social support policies, both in Bhutan and in Perth. |
| Keywords | Left-Behind Children, Kin Caregivers, Grandparenting, Transnational Families, Transnational parenting, Migration, Diaspora. |
Research Details
| Student research | Yes |
| Institution: Edith Cowan University | |
| Academic degree: Master | |
| Supervisor of the student(s) | |
| Full Name and title: Dr Shantha Karthigesu | |
| Email: s.karthigesu@ecu.edu.au | |
| Start Date | 24-Feb-2025 |
| End Date | 31-Dec-2026 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Edith Cowan University |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | No |
| Bhutan, Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Non-communicable diseases & Healthy Lifestyles |
| Research field(s) | Other (Family Health) |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Other (Caregiver Wellbeing) | |
| Data Collection | Primary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | Approved |