Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Iranian immigrant parents' acculturation and the level of conflict they experience with their children who were born in the United States. Methodology. A quantitative research design was used to address this study's research questions. This study relied upon an analysis of the correlation between the parent's acculturation level and perceived conflict level with his or her child. Three quantitative survey instruments were used to collect data from participants: Conflict Behavior Questionnaire, 4-item Acculturation Conflicts Scale, and the Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire. Demographic data were also collected from the participants. The population of interest in this study was first generation Iranian immigrant parents living in Orange County, California with children (ages 11-22 years) who were born in the United States. Findings. The present study showed a moderate positive relationship between Iranian cultural involvement and parent-child conflict and a weak negative relationship between American cultural involvement and parent-child conflict. The moderating role of average household income on the relationship between Iranian cultural involvement and parent-child conflict, which has been shown in other studies, suggests that acculturation has a stronger association with parent-child conflict in low-income families. Although the current study only set the foundation for understanding family conflict dynamics for Iranian immigrant families, resident in Orange County, California, the overall results of this study reflected the results of previous studies on immigrant groups. Recommendations. The author recommends conducting further research due to the growing Iranian population in the United States. Future studies can build upon this result and explore it in further depth. In addition, this study used modified versions of existing instruments, which might support future studies on Iranian populations. While Iranian and American cultural involvement appears to have a small role to play in parent-child conflict, when viewed from the parent perspective, the interaction of income levels, acculturation, and parent-child conflict requires further examination.