Parenting early adolescents in the postmigration context: a qualitative study of African refugee women’s experiences

Purpose This study aims to examine how African refugee mothers experience parenting early adolescents after resettlement in the United States. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and phenomenological orientation, the study explores how parenting is shaped by interactions among family relationships, schools, child welfare systems, community networks and broader cultural expectations in the postmigration context. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 African refugee mothers living in Oregon who were parenting at least one child between 11 and 14 years of age. Interviews were conducted in English or Swahili, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis in Atlas.ti. In addition to exploring lived experiences of parenting early adolescents, the interviews included a brief exploratory discussion of the Family Check-Up (FCU) as a potential culturally responsive parenting support. Findings Five interrelated findings emerged. First, mothers described parenting early adolescents as increasingly complex because early adolescence is a developmental period marked by growing autonomy, identity exploration, and heightened peer and school influence. Second, participants described cultural negotiation rather than a simple opposition between “African collectivism” and “Western individualism”; they were actively trying to preserve valued parenting norms while adapting to a globalized social environment. Third, mothers reported that stress, fear and emotional exhaustion constrained their parenting, particularly when worries about child welfare intervention discouraged help-seeking. Fourth, participants drew on faith, kinship and community relationships as sources of resilience. Fifth, mothers viewed FCU-related supports as potentially useful when delivered in culturally and linguistically responsive ways. Research limitations/implications This study is based on a small qualitative sample of 13 African refugee mothers in one U.S. state, which may limit the transferability of findings to other refugee populations and contexts. Participants also varied in country of origin and migration histories, which may shape parenting experiences differently. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples, including fathers and extended family members, and examine how parenting experiences evolve over time. Longitudinal and intervention-based studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of culturally responsive parenting programs and mental health supports for refugee families navigating early adolescence. Practical implications The findings highlight the need for culturally responsive parenting supports for refugee families raising early adolescents. Programs should build on cultural strengths such as faith, kinship and community networks while providing guidance on navigating host-country parenting norms and child welfare systems. Interventions such as the FCU may be effective if adapted to be culturally relevant, linguistically accessible and flexible for working parents. Schools, health providers and social service agencies should partner with community-based organizations and cultural brokers to reduce institutional mistrust and improve access to services for refugee families. Social implications Supporting refugee parents during early adolescence can strengthen family relationships and promote positive developmental outcomes for youth in resettlement contexts. Addressing structural barriers – such as language access, economic instability, and fear of child welfare systems – can improve trust between refugee communities and public institutions. Community-based and culturally responsive approaches may reduce social isolation and enhance family well-being. Strengthening these supports can contribute to improved parent–child relationships, better adolescent adjustment, and greater social integration for refugee families within host societies. Originality/value The study extends qualitative scholarship on refugee parenting by focusing specifically on African refugee mothers raising early adolescents, a developmental period that has received comparatively limited attention in refugee family research. By integrating an ecological framework with mothers’ lived accounts, the study shows how parenting challenges are produced not only within families but also through institutional, cultural and structural conditions. The findings have implications for culturally responsive parenting interventions, community-clinical partnerships, and systems-level supports for refugee families.