Profile of the Single Father: A Thematic Integration of the Literature

Abstract

This article provides a profile of the single father based on a thematic analysis and integration of the literature. Important psychological and sociological characteristics of the role are identified.

Perceptions of Younger Single Adults as a Function of Their Gender and Number of Children

“…The integration of the literature showed that single fathers experience a lot of intrapersonal stress as they assume the responsibility of raising the children on their own (Pichitino, 1983). Pichitino (1983) also found that single fathers experience interpersonal stress in the sense that there is often a change in their circle of friends due to guilt about not spending enough time with their kids.…”

“…Pichitino (1983) created a profile of the single father by combining the literature that looked at the single father as a person and the problems and needs encountered due to the assumption of his new role. The integration of the literature showed that single fathers experience a lot of intrapersonal stress as they assume the responsibility of raising the children on their own (Pichitino, 1983).…”

“…Pichitino (1983) created a profile of the single father by combining the literature that looked at the single father as a person and the problems and needs encountered due to the assumption of his new role. The integration of the literature showed that single fathers experience a lot of intrapersonal stress as they assume the responsibility of raising the children on their own (Pichitino, 1983). Pichitino (1983) also found that single fathers experience interpersonal stress in the sense that there is often a change in their circle of friends due to guilt about not spending enough time with their kids.…”

The Position of the Single‐Parent Father

“…Another characteristic of single-parent fathers as a group is that fathers who were previously married were actively involved in the child-rearing process (Bartz & Witcher, 1978;Pichitino, 1983;Smith & Smith, 1981). Bartz and Witcher (1978) found that most of the 34 single fathers they interviewed did not consider themselves to be typical fathers before their divorce; involvement with their children after the divorce simply continued to be strong.…”

“…Only in the 1970s did an interest in single-parent fathers develop (Pichitino, 1983). This interest was sparked by the phenomenal growth in the number of single-parent fathers during that decade.…”