Turning points in the transition to parenthood: Variability of father involvement over time

Author(s)

Eva-Maria Schmidt, Irene Rieder, Ulrike Zartler, Cornelia Schadler, Rudolf Richter

Abstract

Although fathers' involvement in care work has increased, the transition to parenthood still implies a gendered division of labour. In order to gain more knowledge of this ambivalence, we focus on the variability of father involvement at this transition. Based on an Austrian qualitative longitudinal study with couples experiencing the transition to first-time parenthood, we examined how fathers' affective, cognitive and behavioural involvement varies across the transition process. Changes in fathers' involvement culminated at particular points in time, conceptualised as turning points. Results show that the transition to fatherhood is characterised by a variety of pre-pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal turning points at which father involvement undergoes crucial transformations. Father involvement varies not only between fathers, but also within individual transitions. The study indicates that turning points contribute to the dynamics and fluidity of the transition process.

Organisation(s)

Department of Sociology, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology

Journal

Zeitschrift für Familienforschung (ZfF)

Volume

29

Pages

139-155

No. of pages

17

ISSN

1437-2940

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3224/zff.v29i2.01

Publication date

09-2017

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

504014 Gender studies, 504011 Genealogy

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology, Sociology and Political Science, Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/be460581-2ba8-4cb6-83e8-8410ef5cbc39