This study explored personal perceptions and experiences of first-time fatherhood in order to explore how young men (18-24 years) experienced the transition to early fatherhood. It sought to extend our understanding of young fathers by attending to the pleasures and distresses of first-time fatherhood. In addition, it examined how internal and external processes influenced young men's adult development and perceived well- being. Twenty semi-structured interviews, consisting of open-ended questions, were conducted at locations in East Anglia. Framework (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994) was employed as the analytical approach. Most young men overwhelmingly welcomed the perceived changes brought about by young fatherhood and identified these changes as a consequence of the transition to young fatherhood. Most fathers delineated with great enthusiasm their pleasure at becoming fathers and the challenge to normative judgements of young fathers. Pleasures included role competency, becoming more sharing with others and new biographies. They were less prepared to discuss distresses, but those outlined included social isolation, obstacles to child access and negative stereotypes. The biographical approach adopted has highlighted the importance of considering both personal and social processes in mapping experiences. These processes had important transformative consequences for adult development and well-being. This study has contributed to our knowledge of young fathers by illustrating the pleasures associated with the transition to young fatherhood and how fatherhood affects personal biographies, whilst acknowledging how for some men, young fatherhood can be a time of distress and anxiety.

Introduction: Being a father is able to invoke substantial social, emotional and psychological changes for men (e.g. Daly, Ashbourne& Brown, 2009; Palm, 1993). The extent and nature of these changes, and a man's global experiences of fatherhood, can be influenced by many factors (e.g. individual characteristics, and contextual issues such as work pressures and marital satisfaction). Although research has begun to examine some local contexts which might affect the nature and experience of fathering (e.g. being a teenage father or the father of an ill child), little research has explored the impact on men's paternal experiences when the mother is suffering from postnatal depression (PND). This dearth of empirical research is surprising given that maternal PND has a high incidence rate and has been identified as having significant and widespread impacts on mothers themselves, their children and their partners (Almond, 2009). Aim: The present study adopted a phenomenological perspective to understand the ways in which fathering is experienced by men whose partners are, or have been, postnatally depressed. Methods: Potential participants were recruited via PND support groups, a dads' group, family outreach workers and word of mouth. Following ethical safeguarding, in-depth and repertory grid interviews were conducted with a final sample of 14 (first-time and multiparous) fathers, aged between 25-50 years, whose partners were perceived by the men to have experienced, or to be experiencing, postnatal depression. After conducting four semi-structured interviews with participants, the decision was taken to shift the method of data collection to one which could be more participant-led, namely the narrative interview, which proved to be a highly successful method of data generation. Following transcription, all 14 in-depth interviews were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings: Men's experiences of fathering in the context of maternal PND were both complex and diverse. Some men felt they were 'filling a void' which was perceived to have resulted from the mothers' withdrawal from parenting. Others felt their fathering was thwarted, as they could not conduct their paternal roles in the way they had wished. For others, the experience of maternal Pl'm was felt to have prevented a much desired sense of togetherness within the family unit. A few men felt that their experiences of fathering were relatively untouched in this context. Inherent in each of these themes was the sense that PND had created absences within the family unit which had impacted on the ways men conducted and experienced their paternal roles. The findings of the repertory grid interviews were in the main supportive of the outcomes of the interpretative phenomenological analysis of participants' accounts. The repertory grid technique was critically evaluated in light of the IPA study and some methodological limitations noted. Nevertheless, the potential in mixing the repertory grid interview with IPA research was recognised. Conclusion: The ways in which men conduct and experience fathering can be significantly and diversely affected in the context of maternal PND. Men fathering in this context may experience specific challenges, but may also experience personal development and successful adaptation to their circumstances. These findings make a compelling case for an inclusive approach to supporting families in the context of maternal PND which involves fathers, mothers and their children.

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This thesis forms the first detailed academic study of fatherhood in Britain between the First World War and the end of the 1950s. It considers the father's roles, relationships, status and identity in turn, using a wide range of source materials relating to the representation and experience of fatherhood. It argues that whilst the fundamental tenets of a father's duties remained constant throughout this period and beyond, there was an increased emphasis on the significance of the father-child relationship from the interwar period. This was caused by new psychological ideas about childhood and parenting, the circumstances of the Second World War, and the rising living standards of many families. The father was increasingly positioned at the heart of the family, and the identity of 'the family man' was celebrated and accepted to a much greater degree by the post-war period. A new emphasis on equal and democratic relationships between family members and a belief in the ability of the nuclear family unit to meet the emotional, psychological, recreational and physical needs of its members shaped and was reinforced by this updated version of fatherhood. The current focus on motherhood in the twentieth century, alongside the tendency to view childcare as constituted by labour rather than a combination of labour and leisure, has obscured the substantial changes that fatherhood underwent in this period. The thesis examines the relationship between cultural norms and ideals, and the experiences of families, and suggests that this period also witnessed the growth of an increasingly prescriptive national culture. This in turn had important effects on family life, as the norms and ideals suggested by cultural authorities such as the press began to have a greater influence on the behaviour and attitudes of individuals.

The aim of this research was to explore fatherhood from a man’s perspective. How do fathers respond emotionally when they experience fatherhood for the first time? What influences these responses? When fathers feel unable to share difficulties with their partner do internet discussion sites provide an effective medium for fathers to access support and advice? Given the important role fathers play in the lives of their children, what factors might lead them to disengage and cease contact? These questions are addressed within the thesis. Chapter 1 provides a review of the literature and aims to focus on exploring the father-child relationship from the father’s perspective and potential hurdles and barriers fathers may have to negotiate when developing and maintaining involvement with their child. Chapter 2 details the main paper. This Grounded Theory study explores the salient emotional experiences of nine fathers, three to six months after the birth of their first child. Emotional responses appear to be influenced by the father’s personal history and the social and interpersonal context. Feelings of attachment to the child are linked to the early attachment experience at birth and subsequently to interplay between instability, turmoil and positive change or growth. Methodological issues and clinical implications are discussed. Chapter 3 details the brief paper. A topic area on an on-line internet discussion forum for fathers was examined in detail using narrative analysis. Findings revealed evidence of significant emotional expression, yet limited emphatic emotional or informational support. Two types of contributors were identified, those using a ‘conversational’ dialogue and those only expressing their views/experience. Future research and developments within the internet are discussed. Chapter 4 offers a reflective review of entering a father’s world as a researcher and includes reflections on the research process, my role as a researcher and the research findings.

This study addresses the following research question: what are the implications of African- Caribbean and White working class men's experiences within social connections (within families, friendships, communities and workplaces), for fathering and health experiences? The purposes of this study were to undertake a primary piece of intensive qualitative research, and also to analyse, critically, the study's findings, in order to identify implications for theory, policy, practice and research. This investigation was critical, interpretative and exploratory, informed by the principles of phenomenology and ethnography. Six African-Caribbean and seven White working class men were recruited, using purposive sampling, for two semi-structured individual interviews. This enabled the exploration of the interactive effects and processes of structure and agency, in relation to social class, gender, and ethnicity. The study did not find major differences between the experiences of these two groups of men, although the assets and constraints related to African-Caribbean men's experiences of ethnicity and racism within social connections were evident. Study findings, for both groups of men, indicated that social connectedness within families, communities and workplaces was highly valued, but social connections, material and structural factors also influenced the health of the men interviewed. Furthermore, findings indicated that men's experiences of social connectedness have limitations. Specifically, men's limited insights into the links between social connectedness and health, men's perceived limitations with their communication skills, their solitary methods of dealing with perceived vulnerability, but also the uncertainty associated with their identities as men were significant findings. Indeed, men's experiences of both solitary discourses and practices and social connectedness, regarding fathering and health, were associated with discourses about masculinities. Implications for existing theory, for example Connell's (1995) work regarding masculinities, and Putnam's (1995) work regarding `social capital', are identified. In addition, implications for research, policy and practice are examined, with specific reference to the opportunities for mental health promotion with working class men who are fathers.

Text in Afrikaans / The earlier conceptualisation of the roles of fathers that only focused on the breadwinner, has been replaced by a number of unique roles that are fulfilled by the father. The different aspects of fatherhood have a reciprocal influence on each other and can influence the father’s experience. The goal of this qualitative study was to explore the father’s experience of twins in their middle childhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight fathers. From this study it became clear that fatherhood of twins can generally be seen as a positive experience, but fathers of twins face extra challenges that lack in the case of single children. The researcher came to the conclusion that by being aware of the changes in each developmental stage, the father can prepare himself better for fatherhood and handle situations that he experiences at a particular moment. Various suggestions that can be useful for parental guidance and preparing fathers of twins for fatherhood were made. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)