The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of being a father first hand, as well as to understand how society creates expectations that influcenc their fatherhood. Fathers have expectations on how they should be in order to be a good father which, amongst other things, involves participation, gratulations and a good relationship to their child. Many times the mother is in the focus as it for many people comes most naturally to have it so. This does not always correspond well with the father’s wishes and can be cause for alienation. Fathers are today very keen to shape how they take on the role as a father and are by redrawing the boundries of fatherhood also reshaping much of masculinity and what it is to be a father. This study was made with five qualitive semi-structured interviews in Skövde, Sweden, with fathers who had a partner and had one or two children under five years of age. A thematic analysis method was used for the interviews which revealed two main themes: ”Participating fathers” and ”Fatherhood - a secondary parent”. The results showed that fathers wants to be a part of the family, not just to have one. It also showed that partners and society’s expectations effects father’s ability to create their own version of fatherhood. The study shows that even if fathers are willing to change the traditional role of fatherhood, they are not capable to do so because the role of notions of masculinity, in relation to fatherhood, is very entrenched in the norm of being a father from society. The conclusion is that there needs to be more open informational discussions with fathers and meeting groups for fathers to share their experience. Aslo, a wider understanding of the impact from the couple relationships and society regarding how fathers percieve themselves as individuals is needed.

This dissertation uses a modified systematic literature review to look at working with parents and carers within child and adolescent psychotherapy, and to consider this tasks relationship to therapeutic outcomes for children and adolescents. The topic is important because psychotherapy with children and adolescents inevitably involves additional relationships. The literature indicates the way this undertaking has been regarded has varied through the history of psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy. Numerous writers reflect on the ongoing neglect and absence of systematic thinking in relation to the task of work with parents and carers. This lack of attention is understood to have been influenced by the traditional model of child and adolescent psychotherapy where the source of the child or adolescent’s distress or difficulty was regarded as being primarily intrapsychic. What is now known regarding the current and active nature of the child or adolescent’s relationship with the parent or carer, and the power and persistence of the parent-child bond has resulted in an acknowledgement of the need for a more equitable balance of focus between internal and external factors. In acknowledging that the external can no longer be seen as peripheral there are compelling clinical reasons to work with parents and carers. This undertaking should not be seen as dependant on the therapist’s orientation or interest. The significant scope of possibilities for work with parents and carers within child and adolescent psychotherapy is explored; however there is a lack of data relating to the clinical effectiveness of these approaches. The future need is for systematic thinking, and the development of practice guidelines for this clinical task.

Most couples eagerly anticipate the birth of their first child. However, the transition to parenthood is also associated with significant lifestyle changes and approximately 50% of couples report a moderate to severe decline in relationship satisfaction and quality. Low relationship satisfaction is associated with increased couple conflict, individual psychological distress, negative parent-child relationships and poor child outcomes. Despite our increasing knowledge of the factors that predict enhanced couple adjustment, few evidence-based programs are available to assist couples' adjustment to parenthood. In this first randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a flexible delivery psycho-education program, entitled 'Couple CARE for Parents', 71 pregnant couples were assessed on self-report and observational measures of couple relationship and individual functioning and then randomized into either the Couple CARE for Parents program (n = 35) or a comparison program (n = 36). Couple CARE for Parents was a six unit program, comprising of an antenatal workshop, two home visits and three telephone support calls, and included skill-training in key relationship processes that are predictive of couple relationship quality, with the addition of parenting and baby care information. Among intervention couples the typical decline in female relationship satisfaction was prevented, with only 13% of intervention females reporting a decline in relationship satisfaction from pregnancy to 5 months postpartum, compared to 42% of females in the comparison program. Observed couple communication also improved as a result of the intervention, with Couple CARE for Parents couples showing reliably lower rates of negative speaker and listener skills at post-intervention relative to comparison couples. Couples were highly engaged in Couple CARE for Parents and there was a low drop out rate across the 7 month intervention period. These findings are promising and add to the early intervention studies showing positive effects of couple-focused psycho-education during the transition to parenthood by demonstrating that flexible delivery programs are feasible and attractive to couples. Providing cost-effective couple relationship education to expectant and new parent couples opens another window of opportunity for health professionals and governments to minimize the rates of relationship distress and divorce and their associated negative effects on individual, couple and family functioning.

<p>The aim in the study is to search for a deeper understanding of how parents experience a neurological diagnose of the child and how this affects the parenthood. Parenthood was seen in a systemtheoretical perspective as a social construction. The narrative method was used in two lifestory parentinterviews. The analysis was made from parenthood. The result formed stories about parenthood with children having neuropsyciatric functional disability who even came to be a woman’s struggle. Two stories became central, one about righteousness and commonship and one against diagnosis and network. The struggle for support and understanding from the surrounding network was central. There was also a fight between the network and the parent of the authority to decide the child’s normality. The parent and child early experience a segregation in society based on diagnose. Parents experienced insecurity and difficulties regarding dose and sideeffects in medication the child. The networks reception was central for the acceptance of diagnosis and for keeping the parentcompetence. The public debate of inherent or environment created doubt and insecurity. In the stories there was a tendency that the struggle went beside the child and parenthood and instead became a struggle for righteousness against society.</p>

<p>Science and technology has been the bedrock of human growth and dynamism. Man has over the years distinguished his existence from all other beings by his ability to champion and fashion his existence. Among his tools is biotechnology which actually attenuates the fears of aging and death.</p><p>Human reproductive cloning stands out as one of the means through which biotechnology plans to achieve this perfect existence for man. Technological advancements in the field of biotechnology are now in the threshold of human procreation.</p><p>Human reproductive cloning is seen as an assisted method of reproduction which creates a newborn that is genetically identical to another human being.Human reproductive cloning as a technology and as a means of reproduction is not without its pros and cons. In as much as the technology promises to mention but a few, hope for the infertile couples and single parents, as well as the hope of reproduction without passing on hereditary diseases; it at the same time beeps some flashes of worry. Hence, the inherent threat to the notion of parenthood which does not smack of compromise, coupled with other ethical implications are reasons one may proffer not to have this technology.</p><p>Technologised parenthood stands out as an implication of human reproductive cloning and as such it considers issues in human sexuality i.e. the place of human sexuality in reproduction and then the nature of the family which is the playground of human existence. This thesis focuses on this implication of human reproductive cloning while making a critical exposition of the concept of human reproductive cloning.</p>

<p>Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka vikten av ett genetiskt föräldraskap hos par som genomgick infertilitetsbehandling i Sverige med donerade ägg eller spermier, samt att jämföra attityder till genetiskt föräldraskap mellan kvinnor och män samt personer med eller utan möjlighet till genetiskt föräldraskap. Denna delstudie ingår i ett större projekt som heter Långtidsuppföljning av IVF, ägg- och spermiedonation i Sverige. Den grupp som har undersökts i föreliggande studie är par som genomgått behandling med donerade ägg eller spermier under 2005-2006. Antalet recipienter i denna studie var 277 personer. Information har samlats in i form av enkäter. Resultatet visade tydligt att nästan alla deltagare instämmer i att föräldrar är de som lever med och tar hand om ett barn oavsett genetiskt släktskap. Resultatet visade inga signifikanta skillnader i attityder till genetiskt föräldraskap oavsett om deltagarna hade möjlighet till genetiskt föräldraskap eller inte.</p> / <p>The aim with this study was to find out how important it is with genetic parenthood for couples undergoing infertility treatment in Sweden with donated eggs or sperms, and to compare attitudes to genetic parenthood between women and men and between persons with or without possibility to genetic parenthood. The present study is included in a larger project called Long-term follow-up of IVF, oocyte - and sperm donation in Sweden. The group that has been examined in the present study are couples who underwent infertility treatment with donated eggs or sperms during 2005-2006. A total of 277 persons participated in the study. Information has been gathered with questionnaires. The results clearly showed that almost all participants agree that parents are those who live with and take care of a child independent of genetic relationship. The result did not show any significant differences in attitudes to genetic parenthood irrespective of whether the participants had possibility to genetic parenthood or not.</p>

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur socialsekreterare i några kommuner bedömer behovet av stöd för föräldrar med en lindrig utvecklingsstörning eller svagbegåvning. Vidare är syftet att undersöka vad socialsekreterarna upplever vara problematiskt vid dessa bedömningar, samt att inventera vad tidigare forskning säger på området. Forskningsöversikten kommer i uppsatsen att användas som analysverktyg. Som metod använder jag mig av en kvalitativ ansats i form av halvstrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet visar att alla de tre intervjuade socialsekreterarna gör en vanlig utredning. Utöver det anlitar socialsekreteraren i den andra kommunen ett utredningshem, där familjen bor under en längre tid och där särskilda bedömningsinstrument används. I den tredje kommunen gör socialsekreteraren en utredning i en utredningslägenhet, där familjen vistas dagtid under en längre tid, men utan särskilda bedömningsinstrument. Svårigheter som upplevdes var bland annat beroende av själva utvecklingsstörningen eller svagbegåvningen i sig, att föräldrarna kan ha svårt att se sitt eget behov av stöd. Bemötandet och risken att föräldern ska känna sig kränkt och om föräldern ska räcka över tid var också svårigheter som togs upp. Överlag upplevdes detta vara ett svårt område med svåra bedömningar. Slutsatsen är bland annat att, antagligen, på grund av det relativt lilla antalet föräldrar med utvecklingsstörning och svagbegåvning så har inte alla kommuner utarbetat särskilda bedömningsmetoder just för den här gruppen. Men detta skulle behövas eftersom forskning visat att rätt bedömning är viktigt för att kunna utforma adekvat stöd.</p><p>Nyckelord: utvecklingsstörning, svagbegåvning, föräldraskap, bedömning, socialsekreterare.</p> / <p>Intellectual disability and parenthood</p><p>-social welfare secretaries assessment of the need of support for parents with an intellectual disability, and the difficulties around these assessments</p><p>The main purpose of this study is to examine how social welfare secretaries do their assessments of the need of support for parents with an intellectual disability, and what their experiences is about difficulties doing these assessments. The purpose is also to examine what earlier research says in the area. The research summary will be used for the analysis of the empirical data. The method used is a qualitative approach with semi structured interviews in three municipalities (A, B, C). The result shows that in all three examined municipalities (A, B, C) they do an ordinary investigation. In municipality B social welfare secretaries also use a special institutional flat where the family lives for a longer period of time and where special methods of assessment are used. In municipality C social welfare secretaries also use a special flat for purpose of investigation where the family stays day time for a longer period of time, but without using special methods of assessment. The result also shows that difficulties in doing these assessments depend for example on the intellectual disability in itself: parents not being able to understand their own need of support. It also shows difficulties in addressing the parents, without making them feel insulted. Generally the experiences of the interviewed social welfare secretaries is that it is a complicated area with complicated assessments. An important conclusion of this study is that, probably because of the relatively small numbers of parents with an intellectual disability, not all municipalities have developed special methods for this special group of people. But this will be needed, because as the research summary shows, a correct assessment by the social welfare secretary is necessary in order to be able to give adequate support.</p><p>Key words: intellectual disability, parenthood, assessment, social welfare secretary</p>

<p>This two years master´s thesis examines how books and literature can strengthen the contact between imprisoned fathers and their children, and the connection between the treatment of offenders and education in Sweden. The methods used are interviews and textual analysis. The theoretical starting points are influenced by Bernt Gustavssons works concerning the concept of education (the Swedish term “bildning”) and Foucaults thoughts on the subject of power and its relation to knowledge and resistance.</p><p>Through history many attempts have been made to “cure” those who commit criminal acts by educating them, at first to enable them to get employed after serving their sentence, the education thus being for the greater good of the society in general, but since the 1940’s the aim has shifted towards education for the individuals own personal development and readjustment to society.</p><p>The findings indicate that the service provided to prisons by public libraries play an important role for the inmates, as a source of books for amusement and diversion as well as providing the means for education. This thesis examines four reading programmes in prison, in order to establish their place in the tradition of education within the Swedish penal system. In the prison reading programs the fathers choose a children’s storybook and either reads it during the child’s visits or make a recording on DVD or CD to send to their child on the outside. The Swedish example, <em>Godnattsagor inifrån, is influenced by its English and American precursors in its attempt </em>to create or strengthen the bonds between fathers and children through the reading experience. Many fathers taking part in the study circle organized by Malmö public library claim the experience has taught them not only to dare read aloud to their children, but also to appreciate literature for themselves.</p><p>My conclusion is that the reading programmes have effects beyond the individual inmate, as it to a certain extent can be a bond to keep a broken family together and as such actually prevent the father from committing further crime. The library service in prison is also greatly needed and appreciated by the incarcerated fathers.</p>

“A child has been born unto us”, is the most beautiful expression of humankind’s ability to cherish hope and trust for the world, writes Hanna Arendt. She describes how every child’s birth is the beginning of something new, something that the title is intended to emphasise. “Us” in the title also indicates that the child with a functional impairment becomes a public child in a special way. The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of becoming a parent when the child has a functional impairment. The study is based on a relational perspective. The theoreticians whose ideas have been used are, aside from Arendt, also Buber, Stern and Winnicott. In the analysis of the parental narratives, inspiration was taken from Ricoeur in a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Encounters are the themes in this thesis, and have been formulated as encounters with the child, the environment and the professionals. 30 parents (19 mothers and 11 fathers) were interviewed about their experiences of parenthood. The diagnosis of the child’s functional impairment was a chaotic and upsetting situation for the parents. Many strong, different feelings came into play. The parents could feel that they had been “thrown out into space”, and that their future was suddenly taken away from them. The future was what worried them most, and the question that was singled out was “How can we live this life?” Many professionals became involved in the child’s life, which could be both advantageous and disadvantageous for the family. The professionals’ attitudes and advices had a profound influence on the parents. Even though the child became in a sense a public child, the parents also had a feeling of having to carry on a struggle for their child in society, a” struggle of love” demanding the consideration of the child’s potential. Another “struggle of love” initially involved the parents’ own attempts to establish a relationship to the child. Thus there were two “struggles of love”. In their new, hesitant parenthood they had to “find their place in the world” and a way to exist. In their interaction with the child they had two competing figures of mind during the first period, “to be” and “to act”. The grief the parents had felt for the diagnosis could after a while be separated from the child, and it was the child who helped the parents to handle the grief. In the thesis the parents’ experiences are discussed, based on questions confronting them. How playing and training are interrelated is also discussed, as well as the significance of narration and the responsibility of the professionals. These results can be expected to have consequences for special educational work in this field.

Science and technology has been the bedrock of human growth and dynamism. Man has over the years distinguished his existence from all other beings by his ability to champion and fashion his existence. Among his tools is biotechnology which actually attenuates the fears of aging and death. Human reproductive cloning stands out as one of the means through which biotechnology plans to achieve this perfect existence for man. Technological advancements in the field of biotechnology are now in the threshold of human procreation. Human reproductive cloning is seen as an assisted method of reproduction which creates a newborn that is genetically identical to another human being.Human reproductive cloning as a technology and as a means of reproduction is not without its pros and cons. In as much as the technology promises to mention but a few, hope for the infertile couples and single parents, as well as the hope of reproduction without passing on hereditary diseases; it at the same time beeps some flashes of worry. Hence, the inherent threat to the notion of parenthood which does not smack of compromise, coupled with other ethical implications are reasons one may proffer not to have this technology. Technologised parenthood stands out as an implication of human reproductive cloning and as such it considers issues in human sexuality i.e. the place of human sexuality in reproduction and then the nature of the family which is the playground of human existence. This thesis focuses on this implication of human reproductive cloning while making a critical exposition of the concept of human reproductive cloning.