Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

In this qualitative study, I focus mainly on the perspectives of sons, regarding their interactions and relationships with their fathers. The participants were 10 adolescents of Mexican descent, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years and belonging to migrant/seasonal farmworker families in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas and the Panhandle of North Florida. In addition, five gatekeepers who worked with this population added their perspectives on the lives of these migrant/seasonal farmworker families. Using the paradigm of constructivism and a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by examining the transcribed interviews, creating themes and by using a peer auditor who had experience working on qualitative research. Themes were identified separately for sons and gatekeepers. The following themes emerged from the interviews with the sons regarding their interactions with their fathers and their conceptions of fatherhood: (a) being friends and spending time together, (b) fathers as maintainers of trust and family unity, (c) fathers as teaching responsibility, (d) fathers as role models, and (e) quédate! I want to get closer. The findings from sons suggest that adolescent males seek to be closer to their fathers but, sometimes, the lifestyle of migrant farmworker families makes this impossible. The findings from the gatekeepers indicated that family unity is crucial to these families and that, due to the various challenges they face in U.S. society, they benefit from support and encouragement, which they can receive only if they feel comfortable with service providers.

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