Meeting the challenge of new fatherhood during the early weeks

Abstract

Objective: To explore new/subsequent Australian fathers' perspectives on the experiences, processes, and life changes in the early weeks of fatherhood. Design: Interpretive study using in-depth interviews and grounded theory analysis techniques, based on a symbolic interactionist framework. Setting: Participants were recruited from the postnatal wards of a major public hospital, early discharge program, and early childhood centers in southeast Queensland, Australia. Participants: Eighteen first-time/subsequent fathers interviewed 6 to 12 weeks after the birth. Results: Although rewarding, fathers found new or expanding fatherhood to be a significant challenge and time of change. Major themes included making a commitment, taking responsibility, negotiating responsibilities, developing and maintaining relationships, maintaining family integrity, balancing activities, and perceiving the self as father. Work had a major impact on fathers' ability to participate with their family and newborn. To manage, fathers sought to balance the demands of work and home, deal with stressors, manage their time, develop routines, and reprioritize. Fathers developed a sense of themselves as fathers over time, building confidence and deriving satisfaction from their fathering role. Conclusions: A range of competing factors affected fathers' ability to participate in the home with their newborn in the early weeks after birth.