| The profession of social work emphasizes the use of theoretical frameworks to guide work with clients. However, many theoretical frameworks have failed to include the perceptions of diverse populations, specifically, attachment and cognitive development theory. Mexican-American parents' perceptions on child development are sparsely researched. Given that culture and ethnic identity play a major role in the way individuals perceive their life and may influence the choices they make, the purpose of this study was to collect the lived experiences of Mexican-American parents utilizing a phenomenological approach. The relationship between culture and child development was examined, along with the values, beliefs, and behaviors Mexican-American parents identified were significant for their child to develop. Parents were asked to discuss what roles they play in helping their children to develop. Thirty-minute interviews were conducted with six volunteer Mexican-American parents. The data analysis resulted in six overarching themes: the value of respect via modeling and communication, parental belief of instilling self-efficacy, importance of instilling communication, attachment, secondary support systems, making meaning of their past experiences with their parental figure. The implications for social work practice along with the implications for social work education are described in the results and discussion chapter of this study. Recommendations for future research on this topic are addressed. |
