Fatherhood group sessions: A descriptive and summative qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Parenting Studies
• Child Health Care

Background:

• New parenthood presents significant challenges for fathers.
• Fatherhood groups are emerging as a support service within child health care.
• Understanding the dynamics of these groups is crucial for optimizing their effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine leader activities, roles, and topics in fatherhood groups.
• To describe fathers' participation and engagement within these sessions.
• To identify key factors influencing the success of fatherhood support groups.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design.
• Three audio- and video-recorded group sessions with eight new fathers.
• Analysis using three qualitative content analysis approaches.

Main Results:

• The group leader adopted four roles: discussion leader, expert, friend, and organizer.
• Fathers actively discussed challenges related to child-rearing, partner relationships, daily life, and gender equality.
• The leader's role as a discussion facilitator was key in enabling fathers to share experiences and changes.

Conclusions:

• Fatherhood groups provide valuable social networks for new fathers.
• These groups offer a crucial space for addressing complex topics like gender equality in parenting.
• The leadership style and role adopted by the group leader significantly impact the group's ability to facilitate meaningful discussions and support fathers.