- 221 views
- 356 downloads
Everyday Family Life of Intercultural Families with Young Children
-
- Author / Creator
- Goehing, Carina
-
Intercultural relationships in Canada have been increasing during the past decades. Research in this area has typically focused on the couple rather than considering the family unit and little is known about family functioning in this population. Thus, the central purpose of this study was to explore and describe family functioning of intercultural families with young children and how it is shaped by various influential factors. Data were generated through genogram family interviews with five married couples and subsequent semi-structured individual interviews with each of the five mothers and five fathers. Among the five families, all five mothers were first generation (foreign-born) and all five fathers were Canadian-born second or later generation. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings highlighted six main features important to successful family functioning: having effective communication, spending “fun times” together, sharing family roles, family rituals, common goals and values, and providing and receiving support. These dimensions show important similarities as well as some differences compared to previous research on family functioning. In comparison to current models of family functioning, the findings also indicate the need to consider the complex and reciprocal relationships among culture, individual factors, social and economic conditions, and family functioning.
-
- Subjects / Keywords
-
- Graduation date
- Spring 2015
-
- Type of Item
- Thesis
-
- Degree
- Master of Science
-
- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.