The Experience of Iranian Muslim Immigrant Parents in the United States about the Upbringing of their Second-Generation Children

A second-generation immigrant refers to a person who is born in a different country to where at least one of his/her parents immigrated. Immigration and being an immigrant through which immigrant families become a minority in the destination country, is not an easy task from different perspectives, and when it is coincided with children’s adolescence and the common conflicts and problems of this period, immigrant parents face additional challenges. This article is the result of a qualitative phenomenological study conducted to understand how Iranian Muslim parents living in California connect with their adolescent children. The participants of this study consisted of 15 parents of Iranian Muslim immigrant families with their 13-19  year-old children. They were selected through snowball method of sampling. Forty to ninety-minute interviews were conducted with each of them, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis resulted in three main themes: challenges and concerns of Iranian Muslim immigrant parents about raising their children, opportunities or positive aspects of parenting in the United States, and effective educational strategies for transferring Islamic and Iranian identity. This study can provide practical points for counselors, instructors, and providers of immigration services for immigrant families.