The Social Ecology of Resolving Family Conflict Among West African Immigrants in New York: A Grounded Theory Approach

摘要: The current study employs a grounded theory approach to examine West African immigrants’ resolution of parent–child conflict and intimate partner conflict. Data from 59 participants present an interactive social ecological framework, where lack at one level results in attempts resolve problems higher levels. Four levels are identified within problem solving ecology, each with specific actors positions authority: individual/dyadic (parents spouses), extended family (which includes distant relatives living home countries), community leadership (non-family elders religious leaders), state authorities. From participants’ descriptions challenges emerged picture ecology flux, traditional, socially conservative modes resolving transposed across migration into the more liberal state-oriented familial context United States. This transposition loss spiral for traditional differentially affecting individual families. Implications helping professionals working new immigrant communities include identifying variability openness adapting structures that not well (e.g., patriarchal protection abusive husbands) supporting known be associated being collective monitoring youth).