Distressed fathers and their children: A review of the literature

LeFrançois, Brenda A.

doi:10.1177/0020764010387478

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Like other research [30], we found that access and custody were major issues for fathers with mental illness, but also discovered eight other areas where men reported parenthood-related experienced discrimination. Our research supports Ackerson’s [21] in finding reports of the stigma of parental mental illness extending to affect children.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Discrimination in relation to parenthood reported by community psychiatric service users in the UK: a framework analysis

et al. 2013

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BackgroundExperienced discrimination refers to an individual’s perception that they have been treated unfairly due to an attribute and is an important recent focus within stigma research. A significant proportion of mental health service users report experiencing mental illness-based discrimination in relation to parenthood. Existing studies in this area have not gone beyond prevalence, therefore little is known about the nature of experienced discrimination in relation to parenthood, and how is it constituted. This study aims to generate a typology of community psychiatric service users’ reports of mental illness-based discrimination in relation to becoming or being a parent. A secondary aim is to assess the prevalence of these types of experienced discrimination.MethodsIn a telephone survey 2026 community psychiatric service users in ten UK Mental Health service provider organisations (Trusts) were asked about discrimination experienced in the previous 12 months using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC). The sample were asked if, due to their mental health problem, they had been treated unfairly in starting a family, or in their role as a parent, and gave examples of this. Prevalence is reported and the examples of experienced discrimination in relation to parenthood were analysed using the framework method of qualitative analysis.ResultsThree hundred and four participants (73% female) reported experienced discrimination, with prevalences of 22.5% and 28.3% for starting a family and for the parenting role respectively. Participants gave 89 examples of discrimination about starting a family and 228 about parenting, and these occurred in social and professional contexts. Ten themes were identified. These related to being seen as an unfit parent; people not being understanding; being stopped from having children; not being allowed to see their children; not getting the support needed; children being affected; children avoiding their parents; children’s difficulties being blamed on the parent’s mental health problem; not being listened to; and being undermined as a parent.ConclusionsThis research highlights the need for: greater support for parents with mental illness, those wishing to have children, and those who lose access or custody; services to better meet the needs of children with a mentally ill parent; training about discrimination for professionals; and parenting issues to be included in anti-stigma programmes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Discrimination in relation to parenthood reported by community psychiatric service users in the UK: a framework analysis

et al. 2013

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The children of men with mental illness are at increased risk of a number of negative psychosocial outcomes, including emotional and behavioural problems (Weitzman, Rosenthal, & Liu, 2011), psychiatric disorders (Ramchandani et al, 2008), and poor adolescent adjustment (Ramchandani & Psychogiou, 2009). (For reviews, see Lefrançois, 2012, andWilson &Durbin, 2010. ) There are, however, other bodies of literature that have investigated the relationship between men's mental health and family life, even if the fathering role or children's outcomes are not their central focus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal associations between fathers' mental health and the quality of their coparenting relationships

Price‐Robertson

Baxter

Mathews

2017

Clinical Psychologist

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“…Research into the active role of children in helping the family deal with difficult situations complements the more common focus on individual coping. This is also evident in the growing body of research focusing on children's roles as carers in families in which parenting by one or both parents is compromised, for example as a result of mental illness (Aldridge, ; LeFrancois, ). In qualitative case studies in five countries, Ungar and others () found that for adolescents who were identified as coping well with chronic adversity, making a contribution to the welfare of their family was advantageous to their own well‐being.…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping and Helping to Cope: Perspectives of Children of Palestinian Political Detainees

et al. 2018

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This qualitative study investigates how children of Palestinian political detainees in Israeli detention cope with their fathers' absences. Researchers conducted 16 semi‐structured interviews with children, mostly aged 15 and older in the West Bank. Three themes are discussed that emerged from the interview data: how children cope with their sadness; the children's perspectives on community support; and older children's support to siblings and parents. Practitioners can support children by providing counselling to mothers and organising interventions, which give children the opportunity to connect. It is important that the agency of the older children is taken into account and built upon.

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Distressed fathers and their children: A review of the literature

Abstract: Most of the quantitative literature focuses on the many risks and negative outcomes for children. However, qualitative studies suggest positive outcomes such as strong parent-child relationships, which demand further attention both in research and in practice.

Cited by 25 publications

References 33 publications

Discrimination in relation to parenthood reported by community psychiatric service users in the UK: a framework analysis

Discrimination in relation to parenthood reported by community psychiatric service users in the UK: a framework analysis

Longitudinal associations between fathers' mental health and the quality of their coparenting relationships

Coping and Helping to Cope: Perspectives of Children of Palestinian Political Detainees

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