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Parenting practices among Dominican and Puerto Rican mothers.
Soc Work 2007; 52(1):17-30.
Guilamo-Ramos V, Dittus P, Jaccard J, Johansson M, Bouris
A, Acosta N.
Abstract
This study presents descriptive qualitative data about Latino parenting practices
in an urban context. Focus groups were conducted with Dominican and Puerto
Rican mother-adolescent pairs in the Bronx borough of NewYork City. When parenting
style typologies are integrated with the Latino cultural components familismo,
respeto, personalismo, and simpatía, Latino parenting practices and
their underlying styles are better understood. Content analysis of parents'
focus groups revealed five essential Latino parenting practices: (1) ensuring
close monitoring of adolescents; (2) maintaining warm and supportive relationships
characterized by high levels of parent-adolescent interaction and sharing;
(3) explaining parental decisions and actions; (4) making an effort to build
and improve relationships; and (5) differential parenting practices based
on adolescents' gender. Mothers reported concerns related to the risks associated
with living in an urban area, exposure to different cultural values, and opportunities
for engaging in risky behaviors. Adolescents' recommendations for effective
parenting strategies were similar to the practices reported by their mothers.
The study has important applied implications for culturally competent social
work practice with Latino adolescents and their families.