Exploring the Lived Experience, Meaning and Imperatives of Fatherhood: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Introduction:There have been considerable changes in the concept and meaning of fatherhood in the past few decades and a lot of studies has down in this area, but there is no information about fathering and fatherhood from Iranian perspective, thus present study designed to explore the men’s understanding of fathering and paternal role during their first year of transition to parenthood.Method:This phenomenological study included accounts of 17 Iranian fathers, who had experienced fathering for the first time. Data was analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach.Results:The results reveal that a father is a man who reproduces a child and accepts the responsibility for supporting his family as the fulcrum. A father is a good-tempered, faithful, patient and hardworking man with essential knowledge and proficiency. A father should accept his role as the father. He is also expected to participate actively in dealing with family daily issues, value and promote the health and well-being of his children, and have skills of self-management and self-care.Conclusion:Iranian fathers not only committed to play their traditional roles and responsibilities, but also welcome new roles such as constantly being with their children and providing emotional support to them.

The experience of first‐time Hong Kong Chinese fatherhood: A qualitative exploratory study

“…Besides, in the old days, fathers mainly supported the family financially without (or only seldom) being involved in family or housework (Chen-Bouck & Patterson, 2017;Eskandari et al, 2016). But now, men are expected to participate more actively in child rearing (Barenski, 2010;Eskandari et al, 2016).…”

“…In contrast to past generations, fathers nowadays are expected not only to provide financial support for their families but also to participate in childbirth and share the responsibilities for the care and rearing of the child (Featherstone, 2009). However, the dual expectations of fathers' roles as both financial provider and co-parent can be difficult for first-time fathers, with most having grown up when men were minimally involved in childrearing and may not have had a role model from whom to learn appropriate fathering skills (Eskandari, Simbar, Vadadhir, & Baghestani, 2016).…”

Design and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of a Paternal Adaptation Questionnaire

“…The current PAQ was designed and evaluated in Iran to assess paternal adaptation. Although this questionnaire was designed based on Iranian men’s experiences of parenting, it is believed that the meaning and experiences of fatherhood, the concept of paternal adaptation, and inhibitors and facilitators of parental adaptation are same in Iranian men and men in other societies (Barenski, 2010; Bradley, Boath, & Mackenzie, 2004; Carneiro et al, 2012; Eskandari, Simbar, Vadadhir, & Baghestani, 2016a, 2016b; Graham, 2007; Kowlessar, 2012; Lewis & Lamb, 2003; Mbekenga, Lugina, Christensson, & Olsson, 2011; Premberg, Hellström, & Berg, 2008). Therefore, the assessment of psychometric properties of this scale in other societies is suggested to improve its generalizability to other contexts and cultures.…”

The Barriers and Facilitators of Iranian Men's Involvement in perinatal Care: A Qualitative Study

“…As a limited number of studies have been conducted in Qom city of Iran so far on the men's involvement in perinatal care (13) and no qualitative study has been done with the method of conventional content analysis in the eld of barriers and facilitators of men's involvement, this study was conducted to explain the barriers and facilitators of Iranian men's involvement in perinatal care with conventional content analysis. The phenomenological descriptive studies describe the phenomena as they are experienced and seeks to clarify the essence of the phenomena experienced and to accurately describe them through the analysis of participants' experiences (14). Content analysis method is also a systematic and objective way of describing phenomena aimed at identifying the goals, values, culture, and desires of the interviewees (15).…”