Parenting from a Jordanian perspective: findings from a qualitative study.

PURPOSE

The main purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore Jordanian parents understanding of parenting.

METHODS

A convenient sample of 110 Jordanian parents recruited from four health centers participated in the study. A semi-structured one-on-one interview with open-ended questions was used to collect the data.

RESULTS

Three thematic areas reflecting parent understands of parenting were identified; parenting as embraced by Islam, transferring of cultural values and traditions, and parenting as a challenge.

CONCLUSIONS

Parenting behavior and its effectiveness are reflected by the strong interplay of Islamic teachings, socio-cultural values and traditions in addition to the challenges and difficulties of being a parent.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

As the ultimate goal of parenting is to promote the wellbeing and the development of children, it is crucial that health care providers involved in the design and delivery of family and children's services have a thorough understanding of how parents perceive parenting and how their understanding can be integrated in programs to enhance parental roles.