Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
28 p.
Publication Date
10-1-2009
Publisher
Sage Publications
Source Publication
Journal of Family Issues
Source ISSN
0192-513X
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1177/0192513X09339290
Abstract
For single African American custodial fathers, parenting stress is exacerbated by the cultural expectation that Black fathers are "normally" absent and by the clustering of stresses that Black men are more likely to encounter. This sample of African American fathers have used a repertoire of problem-focused and cognitive coping strategies, including some that are frequently considered "culturally specific." Twenty Black single custodial fathers are interviewed and their narratives are analyzed for concepts and thematic categories related to stress and coping. Their narratives indicate that certain strategies are avoided because (a) these strategies are not available to them and (b) they desire to present themselves as independent and competent, thus resisting stereotypes and building a sense of efficacy.
Recommended Citation
Coles, Roberta, "Just Doing What They Gotta Do: Single Black Custodial Fathers Coping With the Stresses and Reaping the Rewards of Parenting" (2009). Social and Cultural Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 13.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/socs_fac/13
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Family Issues, Vol.30, No. 10 (October 2009): 1311-1338. DOI. © 2009 SAGE Publications. Used with permission.