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Perceptions of Iranian parents towards the paternal role in raising adolescent children
Author(s) -
Rahkar Farshi Mahni,
Valizadeh Leila,
Zamanzadeh Vahid,
Rssouli Mryam,
Lopez Violeta,
Cleary Michelle
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/nhs.12538
Subject(s) - developmental psychology , psychology , mediation , perception , raising (metalworking) , qualitative research , political science , social science , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience , sociology , law
In Iran, as in other nations, adolescence can be a challenging period for both parents and their children. Typically, mothers assume the main role of parenting, which can have a negative impact either directly or indirectly on paternal involvement, or conversely, play a positive role of mediation between fathers and their adolescent children. In the present study, we report on a qualitative study conducted in 2016 that explored the perceptions of Iranian parents toward the paternal role in raising adolescent children. Twenty three mothers and fathers of adolescent children were interviewed to explore their views and experiences with paternal roles in raising adolescent children. Four themes emerged from the data: (i) limited father–child interactions; (ii) mother‐led parenting; (iii) father–child conflict; and (iv) united front parenting. The findings suggest that mothers maintain a prime role in parenting, but that the involvement of fathers can have a negative or positive impact on adolescent development, depending on the level and quality of that involvement. Strategies need to be explored for how parents can best support one another to engage in the development of adolescent children.