Paternal disengagement has been identified as a key risk factor for Canadian children. Prior to this study, the specific barriers to paternal engagement facing immigrant and refugee fathers had not been studied or identified, nor had strategies been developed to ensure that the needs of this population are met in new and existing services. The design of specialized services for immigrant and refugee fathers, as well as the successful integration of immigrant and refugee fathers into existing services, requires that practitioners gain an understanding of fatherhood from a cross cultural perspective. The intent of this study was to explore the values, strengths and difficulties faced by new Canadian fathers as they negotiate a variety of Canadian experiences while coping with the struggles associated with migration. Implications of these findings for the development and implementation of programs intended to support families will be discussed.

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Canada perception human coping behavior immigrant lifestyle Child Rearing Review social support refugee child parent relation emotion parenthood father child relation family