A Qualitative Study of U.S. Latino Fathers’ Perceptions of Parenting Motivations

Abstract

Though ample research and theory suggest that parents’ beliefs and cognitions are important predictors of their parenting behaviors, there is little understanding of Latino fathers’ perceived parenting motivations. We explored resident, first-time fathers’ motivations to be involved parents in a sample (N = 85) of socioeconomically diverse Latino fathers participating in a parenting intervention in the Washington D.C. area and southern California. Data were collected through structured interviews that were recorded during home visits when infants were 18-months old. Bilingual research assistants transcribed and translated into English fathers’ responses to the interview question, “What makes you want to be a good parent?” A thematic analysis revealed five main emergent themes: (1) personal rearing history, (2) desire to rear a well-adjusted child, (3) relationship with their child, (4) intrinsic motivations, and (5) sense of duty and responsibility. We further explored whether fathers’ perceived parenting motivations varied by their nativity status (i.e., U.S.-born or immigrant). We found variations in each of the themes, including that immigrant Latino fathers were more likely to prioritize their children’s morals and values, whereas U.S.-born Latino fathers emphasized their child’s future success. This study contributes to the limited research on Latino fathers’ parenting perceptions and beliefs. The findings can be used to inform programs geared at strengthening Latine family functioning in the face of adversity through leveraging the reasons behind why fathers want to be positively involved with their young children.