Hispanic Mother and Father Perceptions of Fathering: A Qualitative Analysis

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the ways in which Hispanic (of Mexican descent) mothers and fathers viewed the role of fathers in families. To elicit these views, seven focus group discussions were conducted with 28 spouses/relationship partners. Content analysis of the interview transcripts identified seven dimensions of the fathering role: (a) instrumental providers, (b) disciplinarians, (c) role models, (d) teachers, (e) participants, (f) playmates, and (g) emotional supporters. These findings are discussed in the context of Hispanic cultural mores and past research on fathers.