Asian American Journal of Psychology, Vol 16(3), Sep 2025, 241-254; doi:10.1037/aap0000371
The majority of the literature on parachute kids focuses on the short-term impact of studying abroad at a young age, unaccompanied by parents, and is based solely on the perspectives of the minors. However, there is very little discussion on (a) how to prepare those minors and their parents prior to the minors’ journey abroad and (b) how to better assess their psychological readiness for such a drastic change in their development. To bridge these gaps, we interviewed seven former Taiwanese parachute kids, as well as nine supporting adults, which included parents, counselors, teachers, and student affairs personnel. Former parachute kids generally reported being ill-prepared for the process despite the linguistic preparation they all received. They also indicated that being outgoing and having external support were helpful for their adjustment. Supporting adults reinforced the idea that those who reached out for support and were more open to experiences had an easier and more successful adjustment process. Based on the results, we offered recommendations for preparation, such as fostering an open mindset and increasing students’ knowledge about the new environment. Schools should actively help students prepare for their transition by offering workshops and support. Finally, we recommended assessing the minors’ sense of agency, mental health issues, family dynamics, and cultural intelligence as indicators for their psychological readiness for studying abroad. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)