How Does Migration Affect Mothers’ and Fathers’ Roles Within their Families? Reflections on some Recent Research

Abstract

Collectively, the articles in this special issue reveal that immigration has diverse effects on individual family members that vary depending on their gender and age. Such findings underscore the need for intensive analysis and comparison on a number of levels-fathers versus mothers, sons versus daughters, parents versus children. This commentary highlights some of the findings that emphasise the centrality of gender in colouring the experience of immigration for different family members. Limitations of the findings are noted and suggestions are made for future research examining the effects of migration on families and family members.

Parental Migration and Children’s Outcomes in Romania

“…The only other significant difference between boys and girls was in terms of the social support from friends, girls reporting a higher level of perceived support than boys. This is similar with previous literature (e.g., Lamb and Bougher 2009) and could be due to the higher social skills that girls have by adolescence which would make it easier for them to acquire the needed social support from their friends. Girls might be more prone to share their problems with outsiders and thus increase the likelihood of receiving emotional support.…”

“…Higher support from family and friends was also associated with higher support from parents and higher monitoring levels, adding to the literature that indicates that shared care provided by multiple caregivers could supplement the parent's childrearing duties (Lamb and Bougher 2009). Similarly with previous literature, higher parental support is increasing academic achievement, while higher levels of monitoring are reducing children's depression and behavioral problems (e.g., Conger et al 2000;Gartstein and Fagot 2003).…”

Father‐Involvement in a Refugee Sample: Relations between Posttraumatic Stress and Caregiving

“…This compensation mechanism might also be applicable to refugee and asylum seeker fathers, as they face difficulties that put their children at risk (Shimoni, Este, & Clark, ). Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that fathers suffer more from immigration stress than do mothers (Lamb & Bougher, ; Shimoni et al., ). To gain a new influential role in the family, fathers may compensate for their role loss as protector and provider by investing more energy in interacting with their child (Este & Tachble, ; Lamb, ; Qin, ).…”

Gender Roles in Immigrant Families: Parenting Views, Practices, and Child Development

“…The concluding paper by Lamb and Bougher (2009), How Does Migration Affect Mothers' and Fathers' Roles within Their Families? Reflections on Some Recent Research, provides an integrated view of how gender and age are examined in relation to immigration and settlement.…”