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An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States

GORIS, ACHA GEORGE
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1210710989

Abstract Details

2008, EdD, University of Cincinnati, Education : Counselor Education.
African immigrants experience higher rates of separations and divorces compared to other immigrant groups in the United States. However, family plays a central role in the life and identity of Africans. The goal of this study was to explore the marital issues African immigrants (AIs) face through the ecological counseling model. Six participants were interviewed through an open-ended, nondirective interview structure, giving the opportunity for participants to tell their stories from their perspectives. The results revealed six common areas of difficulties among married African immigrants. These are: difficulty managing family finances, extended family needs and demands, the difficulty in open communication about money and extended family, the struggle of childcare, problematic immigration policies and laws, and the dominance of the male spouses. In further analyzing these themes, male dominance or the need for the male spouse to possess some control appeared to be the undercurrent for most of the issues identified. All the difficulties that AI couples experienced could be traced to the different expectations for men and women in African worldview and Western culture, with the former favoring the male spouse taking charge and leading his family, and the latter valuing more equality between men and women. These findings also revealed the necessity and challenge for both African men and women to renegotiate their roles and find effective ways of communicating with each other.
Mei Tang, PhD (Committee Chair)
Maryanne Pitman, PhD (Committee Member)
Geoffrey Yager, PhD (Committee Member)
Joseph Takougang, PhD (Committee Member)
146 p.
Behaviorial Sciences

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • GORIS, A. G. (2008). An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1210710989

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • GORIS, ACHA. An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States. 2008. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1210710989.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • GORIS, ACHA. "An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1210710989

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1210710989
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.