This research project examined the adolescent/young adult-parent relationships of African Jamaican immigrants currently living in Canada. Specifically, we focused on the transmission of cultural values and beliefs within these relationships and how the adolescents navigated and negotiated potential changes in these values because of their acculturative experiences. An examination of various mundane family/cultural practices provided insight into perceived transmission attempts by parents and the adolescent/young adult interpretation of these attempts. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescent/young adult members of African Jamaican immigrant families living in Canada. Using Grounded Theory methodology (Glaser & Strauss, 1967), several themes emerged during the analysis of the interviews - the most significant being the issue of matrifocality within the African Jamaican family. Issues of respect and adolescent agency are also discussed as they related to the manner in which the adolescent/young adult attempted to negotiate various roles within the family. © 2009 FPI, Inc.

Family Acculturation parent-child relationship Socialization

Jamaica cultural anthropology perception Cultural Diversity Negro psychological aspect interpersonal communication human Negotiating statistics statistics and numerical data Adaptation, Psychological child behavior ethnology interview Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Black person Adolescent African Continental Ancestry Group Interviews as Topic Canada male Acculturation Emigrants and Immigrants female adaptive behavior cultural factor Parent-Child Relations Article Adolescent Behavior adult migration Social Perception social class child parent relation Culture