New fathers: A research study on the emotional experiences, about their role as fathers, of men whom a child was born to recently

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SPS Studio di Psicosociologia

Abstract

We carried out a research study to explore the emotional experiences of a group of men who became parents of a child since no more than one year and a half. Within the factorial space, we found the culture of “new fathers” to be prevalent, regarding those who take on childcare functions, once exclusive of mothers. For them, birth is a profound revolution, which requires a reorganization of daily life. Wihin a broader social context, everything goes well, fathers know how to be fathers. These fathers still feel anchored to a tradition that guides them. Instead, the relationship with women represents a more complex issue, which is very present in their emotional experiences: as a partner, as a wife, as a mother. There is a different relationship with each of such representations of women. With a partner one shares everyday life, with a mother there is a relationship of conflict and possible love, with a mother it is very difficult to have a relationship. We compared the data of this research study with those of a similar study dealing with new mothers. Literature depicts fathers as in crisis and mothers as sure of their role. In our data, new mothers are the ones who are in crisis: they feel called to take on an all-encompassing role, that of mother, which puts them in relation with pressing conformist prescriptions, makes it uncertain to restore a daily life made up of work and friends, and makes them lose sight of married life.

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Researches

How to Cite

SPS Studio di Psicosociologia. (2022). New fathers: A research study on the emotional experiences, about their role as fathers, of men whom a child was born to recently: . Quaderni Di Psicologia Clinica, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.82037/qpc.2022.899

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