Intergenerational relationships in immigrant families with adolescent children have attracted growing interest, though it is still an under-researched topic in sociology. In contrast to native families, immigrant families are more likely to experience economic strains, acculturation stress and discrimination in the destination country, all of which are likely to impact the relationships between family members. The process of adjusting to a new context can be stressful and tensions between parents and children are likely to arise. It has frequently been assumed that immigrant adolescents experience higher levels of conflict with their parents than natives due to, among other factors, different acculturation speeds across generations or family separation due to migration. Yet most studies only focus on the native-immigrant differential in conflict and overlook other relevant dimensions in the parent-child relationship such as their emotional support. This study examines two dimensions of parent-child relationships in immigrant and native families: first, the level and frequency of conflict; and second, the degree of closeness or emotional intimacy. Conflict refers to the intensity and frequency of arguments between parents and their children, while closeness or emotional intimacy indicates the extent to which there is trust and disclosure of personal matters between them. These two dimensions are key to understanding intergenerational relationships, particularly in families with adolescent children. The text specifically focuses on mother-adolescent relationships in native and Latino immigrant families living in the city of Madrid (Spain). In particular, the study explores three main questions. Do immigrant adolescents report more conflictive relationships with their mothers than their native peers? Do immigrant adolescents also experience lower levels of emotional intimacy with their mothers compared to their native counterparts? If there is a differential in the levels of emotional intimacy and conflict between immigrant and native families, what are the main factors driving those differences?

Le relazioni intergenerazionali nelle famiglie di origine latino-americana in Spagna: conflitto e intimità emotiva

G. Gasperoni
2018

Abstract

Intergenerational relationships in immigrant families with adolescent children have attracted growing interest, though it is still an under-researched topic in sociology. In contrast to native families, immigrant families are more likely to experience economic strains, acculturation stress and discrimination in the destination country, all of which are likely to impact the relationships between family members. The process of adjusting to a new context can be stressful and tensions between parents and children are likely to arise. It has frequently been assumed that immigrant adolescents experience higher levels of conflict with their parents than natives due to, among other factors, different acculturation speeds across generations or family separation due to migration. Yet most studies only focus on the native-immigrant differential in conflict and overlook other relevant dimensions in the parent-child relationship such as their emotional support. This study examines two dimensions of parent-child relationships in immigrant and native families: first, the level and frequency of conflict; and second, the degree of closeness or emotional intimacy. Conflict refers to the intensity and frequency of arguments between parents and their children, while closeness or emotional intimacy indicates the extent to which there is trust and disclosure of personal matters between them. These two dimensions are key to understanding intergenerational relationships, particularly in families with adolescent children. The text specifically focuses on mother-adolescent relationships in native and Latino immigrant families living in the city of Madrid (Spain). In particular, the study explores three main questions. Do immigrant adolescents report more conflictive relationships with their mothers than their native peers? Do immigrant adolescents also experience lower levels of emotional intimacy with their mothers compared to their native counterparts? If there is a differential in the levels of emotional intimacy and conflict between immigrant and native families, what are the main factors driving those differences?
2018
Mariña Fernández-Reino, Amparo González-Ferrer
Intergenerational Relationships among Latino Immigrant Families in Spain: Conflict and Emotional Intimacy
G. Gasperoni
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/659026
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