"Holes in my memories": a qualitative study of men affected by father absence

Transition to fatherhood in the prenatal period: a qualitative study

Becoming a father requires a process of personal development, inner reorientation, and adaptation to a new role. The literature on this process has been sparse, devaluing how challenging and problematic the transition to becoming a father can be. This qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study sought to understand the experiences of men in the transition to fatherhood during the prenatal period. It included a sample of 10 men experiencing, for the first time, a partner's pregnancy. The data collection technique used was semi-structured interviews. The content analysis technique with semantic categorization and an inductive approach was used to analyze the data. As a result, 3 topics emerged: "experiencing the transition," "development of the father identity" and "(de)constructing bridges for the transition". This study deepens the understanding of this developmental transition and challenges the restructuring of prenatal care towards the inclusion of the father figure.

A qualitative study of men's recollections of growing up with father absence: childhood father figures and family resilience

BACKGROUND

Families come in many forms and single parent women headed households are common with nurses being well positioned to provide support for these women and their children. For children growing up in lone parent households, the nature of family relationships and the availability of a social support network are important factors in reducing developmental risks.

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore adult men's recollections of growing up in a father-absent home.

DESIGN

This study utilised a qualitative methodology.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 adult men who grew up in a father-absent home due to family discord. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using an inductive approach.

FINDINGS

Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed two themes relating to childhood father figures and family relational networks. For some men, ambivalent, violent or unavailable father figures stepped into the void created by the absent father. Others experienced positive father figures or multigenerational relationships, which provided positive relational supports and attachments.

CONCLUSION

The findings illuminate the dynamics of family resilience and provide important insights for nurses and other family healthcare workers.