Paternal adaptation in first-time fathers: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore men’s experiences of paternal adaptation during their first year of transition to parenthood.

Background: Stepping into fatherhood is one of the most important events that may occur in a man’s life and can lead to fundamental changes in their identity and lifestyle. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on men’s experiences of paternal adaptation in an Iranian context.

Methods: In this phenomenological study, 15 Iranian men who had the experience of parenting for the first time were recruited using the purposeful sampling method. In-depth semi-structured interviews guided by a questionnaire were used to collect data. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results: The data analysis resulted in the development of 26 themes, 8 subordinate themes and 3 superordinate themes. The superordinate themes included ‘steps toward adaptation’, ‘obstacles to the path of adaptation’ and ‘stabilisation in the paternal position’.

Conclusion: Perceived self-efficacy and satisfaction in fatherhood means an adaptation to the paternal role. Factors influencing paternal adaptation can be classified into the domains of ‘facilitating factors’ and ‘inhibiting factors’.

Keywords:

• Paternal adaptation
• parenting
• interpretative phenomenological analysis
• fatherhood, men

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to all the fathers who took part in this study and also the Research Deputy of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. It is noteworthy that this article is an excerpt from a reproductive health PhD thesis.