Turning points in the transition to parenthood: Variability of father involvement over time

Abstract

"Although fathers' involvement in care work has increased, the transition to parenthood still implies a gendered division of labour. In order to gain more knowledge of this ambivalence, we focus on the variability of father involvement at this transition. Based on an Austrian qualitative longitudinal study with couples experiencing the transition to first-time parenthood, we examined how fathers' affective, cognitive and behavioural involvement varies across the transition process. Changes in fathers' involvement culminated at particular points in time, conceptualised as turning points. Results show that the transition to fatherhood is characterised by a variety of prepregnancy, prenatal and postnatal turning points at which father involvement undergoes crucial transformations. Father involvement varies not only between fathers, but also within individual transitions. The study indicates that turning points contribute to the dynamics and fluidity of the transition process." (author's abstract)"Obwohl die väterliche Beteiligung an der Betreuungsarbeit im Steigen begriffen ist, ist der Übergang zur Elternschaft nach wie vor mit einer geschlechtsspezifischen und ungleichen Arbeitsteilung verbunden. Um diese Ambivalenz zu verstehen, konzentrieren wir uns auf die Variabilität väterlicher Beteiligung bei diesem Übergang. Anhand einer österreichischen qualitativen Längsschnittstudie mit Paaren, die das erste Mal Eltern werden, wurde untersucht, wie sich die affektive, kognitive und verhaltensmäßige Beteiligung in diesem Transitionsprozess verändert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Übergang zur Elternschaft sich durch zahlreiche Wendepunkte (turning points) auszeichnet, an denen väterliche Beteiligung eine wesentliche Änderung erfährt. Diese Wendepunkte können vor und während der Schwangerschaft sowie nach der Geburt auftreten. Die Beteiligung variiert nicht nur zwischen Vätern, sondern auch innerhalb individueller Übergänge. Wendepunkte implizieren einen Wechsel in der Arbeitsteilung zwischen Müttern und Vätern und tragen zur Dynamik und Fluidität des Transitionsprozesses bei." (Autorenreferat

Father involvement during early childhood: A systematic review of qualitative studies

“…Concerning personal challenges, fathers identified the lack of time to carry on personal activities and the loss of personal autonomy. Hence, fathers addressed the importance of engaging in extra work and family activities, such as sports and leisure, to improve their availability to be involved (ID #6, #9, #12):

That time when I'm not working and when I'm not with family is I think very, very important to my sanity, you know, and if I didn't have that, and if I didn't make sure that I got that regardless, you know (Schmidt et al, 2017, p. 348).

…”

“…That time when I'm not working and when I'm not with family is I think very, very important to my sanity, you know, and if I didn't have that, and if I didn't make sure that I got that regardless, you know (Schmidt et al, 2017, p. 348).…”

“…On the other hand, I think I have more responsibility, because you have to look after a small child who depends on you. When she sleeps, you do have more time to do other things, such as household chores and so on, which are almost impossible or more difficult to reconcile with office work (Schmidt et al, 2017, p. 150).Contextual circumstances were addressed by some participants as improving their fathering role by stimulating their involvement in a wider range of activities. For instance, fathers' unemployment was presented as placing them as the main caregivers of the child while mothers are working (ID #8, #16):

I'm the one taking care of both of them … it's something that a lot of men don't do, or don't have the opportunity to do.… Instead of being the nine to five father, and coming home and having a couple of minutes or an hour or two with them, [I] take the whole day with them (Waller, 2009, p. 5).

Greater father involvement was also influenced by diverse personal aspects, such as parenting satisfaction, bonding with the infant, and child's outcomes (ID #3, #5, #6, #11, #13): “She now understands everything and it becomes much more pleasure” (Silva & Piccinini, 2007, p. 568).…”

“…On the other hand, I think I have more responsibility, because you have to look after a small child who depends on you. When she sleeps, you do have more time to do other things, such as household chores and so on, which are almost impossible or more difficult to reconcile with office work (Schmidt et al, 2017, p. 150).…”

Former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fathers' Involvement 4 Years Later: A Qualitative Study

“…Fathers who are involved in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) help to reduce length of stay, improve weight gain, and improve psychosocial behaviors at 18 months (Cabrera & Tamis-Lemonda, 2013;Dubowitz et al, 2000;Lamb, 2000;Sarkadi et al, 2008;Tikotzky et al, 2010;Wong et al, 2017) The intense parenting experience in the NICU leads to pronounced turning points for fathers. Even with healthy infants, fathering goes through crucial transformations from prenatal to postnatal times with many variations both between different fathers and in types of fathering (Schmidt et al, 2017). Jackson et al (2003) found that parents with preterm infants internalize parenting during the first 18 months of their child's life by going through alienation, responsibility, confidence, and finally, to familiarity.…”