Family Cohesion in the Lives of Mexican American and European American Parents

Authors: Behnke, Andrew O.; MacDermid; Coltrane; Parke, Ross D.; Duffy, Sharon; Widaman

Source: Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 70, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 1045-1059(15)

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Abstract:

This study investigated similarities and differences in relations between stress and parenting behaviors for 509 Mexican American and European American fathers and mothers in Southern California. Our model posited that family cohesion mediates the relation between stressors and parenting behavior, and we found that family cohesion strongly mediated most of the relations between stress and parenting behaviors. Important ethnic and gender differences were evident. In contrast with other groups, Mexican American fathers reported higher levels of family cohesion when faced with economic pressures. Implications for future research on stress and parenting are discussed.

Keywords: culture; ethnicity; fatherhood; Hispanic Americans; Latinos; parenting; race; stress

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00545.x

Publication date: 2008-11-01