Social Construction of Barriers or Challenges to Parenting: Black Jamaican Fathers’ and Mothers’ Perspectives

Abstract

Children receive many benefits from the consistent involvement of two adults in their lives. Although mothers and fathers encounter various barriers and/or challenges related to parenting or involvement in their children’s lives, there may be differences according to sex and social circumstances. Unfortunately, limited knowledge of ethnic minority families has negatively impacted the implementation of social policies and intervention programs to support these families. The present study employed qualitative methodology from a social constructivist perspective to contextualize the barriers and challenges that Black Jamaican parents encounter in parenting their children in middle childhood. Using 49 semistructured interviews with Black Jamaican fathers (24) and mothers (25), thematic analysis led to seven themes: (a) lack of resources, (b) child-related concerns, (c) time constraints, (d) work-related concerns, (e) worrying about parenting self-efficacy, (f) partner-related challenges, and (g) contextual difficulties. These findings highlight similarities and differences across sex and social class in the barriers or challenges that Black Jamaican parents experienced in their sociocultural contexts. Social policy, welfare, and psychoeducational intervention programs should be implemented to support families.