Parental Stress and Its Influence on Emotional Well-Being Among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Middle Eastern Countries: An Empirical Study

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.