[Parent-child relations within the context of immigration. What we know and we should know]

Abstract

This article presents an overview of the actual and potential state of knowledge on parent-child relationships within the context of immigration. In addition, it examines the impact of parent-child relationships on the development of the child. The first part gives an update on empirical research carried out in that and an analysis of criticism by specialists in the field. The second half, which focuses on studies originating from disciplines other than child psychology, suggests approaches other than the simple intercultural comparison and underscores the true issue of immigration on family relationships, the complexity of the parental task with regard to immigration, its dynamic properties as well as the adaptation that is required. The author goes on to describe more specifically the role of the cultural and ecological contexts, the double cultural influence to which parents are exposed, the difficulties in relation with the transition and the attitudes of parents during the culture-learning process.