Qualitative study showed that a culturally tailored parenting programme improved the confidence and skills of Somali immigrants

AIM: Parenting programmes tailored to immigrant parents have been reported to improve the mental health of the children and parents, as well as parents’ sense of competence in parenting. However, research on parents’ experiences of programmes tailored to their needs is scarce. This qualitative study aimed to describe Somali parents’ experiences of how a culturally sensitive programme affected their parenting. METHODS: The study was conducted in a middle‐sized city in Sweden in 2015. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews with 50 participants two months after they took part in a parenting support programme. Inductive and deductive qualitative content analyses were used. RESULTS: A light has been shed was a metaphor that emerged from the analysis and that captured the knowledge the parents gained from the parenting system in Sweden. Parents gained confidence in their parenting role and became emotionally aware of their child's social and emotional needs and how to respond to them. Holding the sessions in the participant's native language was important for the parents’ participation and acceptance of the programme. CONCLUSION: Parenting programmes should be tailored to the specific needs of the participants and cultural sensitivity should be factored into programmes to attract immigrant parents.