Stories of Stress and Resilience From Refugee Fathers During Resettlement: Implications for Child Development

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS09 Topic - Solicited Content: Refugee Children

Abstract

Objectives

Last year, the United States resettled 22,419 refugees (Refugee Processing Center, 2019). Many of these refugees come with experiences of trauma, which can impact their family relationships. Although there is current research involving refugees, the role of refugee fathers in child-rearing has been overlooked even though we know that fathers significantly influence their children’s development (Este & Tachble, 2009). Using a stress and resilience framework (e.g., Masarik & Conger, 2017; Masten, 2018), we investigate the stressors and supports of refugee fathers during the early years of resettlement and how these impact their parenting behaviors toward their adolescent children. Specifically, we will investigate the following research questions: (1) What are the stressors and challenges that affect fathers’ parenting of their adolescent children?; (2) What are the strengths and supports that affect fathers’ parenting of their adolescent children?; (3) What aspirations do fathers have for their children's future?; and (4) What resources do fathers need to be successful as a father living in a new community?

Participants

We will recruit five to six fathers (age range 30 - 50 years-old) who identify with the following characteristics: (1) they have moved to Idaho with a refugee status within the past three years; (2) they have at least one child between 7th and 12th grade; and (3) they communicate in English and/or Swahili. Participants will be recruited in the next month using a list of families provided by the second author, who has previously contacted them for another research project involving mothers and their children.

Procedure

A trained interpreter fluent in English and Swahili will call each eligible father to explain the project and determine their interest in participating. If the father is interested in participating, the interpreter will ask a series of closed- and open-ended questions about their stressors, supports, and experiences as fathers in their new resettlement community. The interview will last approximately one hour.

Analysis Plan

The trained interpreter (third author) is a well-known member of the Congolese community and has been hired and trained to work with the participants in their language of choice (Swahili or English). The research is nearly approved by the Institutional Review Board, pending review of translated questions. Open-ended responses from participants in Swahili will be translated into English for the first and second authors to analyze. We will use thematic content analysis to code and organize emerging themes from the open-ended questions. This method will allow us to “provide a rich and detailed, yet complex amount of data,” as described by Braun and Clark (2006). Data collection and analysis will be completed well before the conference.

Implications

Including fathers in research is a step towards breaking societal barriers that prevent fathers from being recognized as essential figures in parenting. While fathers generally are less involved in mainstream research, refugee fathers from African nations are excluded almost entirely (Bond, 2019). A better understanding of these fathers can inform policies and programs intended to support refugee parents and their children as they resettle.

Authors

• Rabia Zahid, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• April S Masarik, Boise State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shukuru Kamulete, Boise State University
  Non-Presenting Author