Fathers of children with a disability: health, work, and family life issues

Abstract

Purpose

Fathers in families raising children with disabilities are under-researched. Fathers’ perspectives can be better accommodated in childhood disability services that operate on a family-centred paradigm if their perspectives are understood. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of fathers on caring and family life, work, and health.

Methods

A mixed-methods design with an online questionnaire included open-ended questions and three instruments: Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS); Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS-M); Fathers of Children with Developmental Challenges (FCDC) Scale.

Results

Fathers (n = 33) reported high depressive (58%), anxiety (37%), and stress symptoms (61%). Fathers reported low participation in health-promoting activity with less than weekly: planning health activities (58%); solo physical activity (26%); social activity (3%); time relaxing (16%). Sixty-four percent worked full-time, although work was reported to be challenged by family responsibilities. Fathers described directly caring for their children although service interactions were low and delegated to mothers.

Conclusions

Fathers in this study reported stress, mental health issues, and low participation in healthy activity. Fathers experienced challenges related to career progression and job choices due to family responsibilities. Providing individualised and responsive support to fathers of a child with a disability would better support the family unit.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Fathers of children with a disability in this study experienced high mental health symptoms.

• Fathers were involved with their child’s care at home but had low service interactions suggesting that service providers need to discover new ways to better engage fathers.

• Fathers experienced challenges to participation in paid work secondary to care responsibilities for their child with a disability and resulting needs of their family.

• Services that better support fathers are important to promote better health and wellbeing and support families.

Keywords:

• Fathers
• disabled children
• mental health
• health promotion
• professional–family relations
• caregivers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

This project was approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (project number 10957), Monash University, Frankston, Australia.

Data availability statement

No data is available for this study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by QBE Finance and supported by Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia.