Fathers' experiences with supportive parenting interventions: A qualitative systematic review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Fatherhood interventions are crucial for enhancing paternal involvement and child-adult relationships.
• Despite demonstrated effectiveness, recruitment and retention of participants remain significant challenges.
• Understanding fathers' lived experiences is key to optimizing intervention design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize qualitative evidence on fathers' experiences with interventions designed to improve their involvement with children.
• To identify factors influencing participation and outcomes in fatherhood programs.
• To inform the development of more effective and engaging fatherhood interventions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Analysis of 10 studies sourced from six electronic databases.
• Thematic synthesis of fathers' reported experiences.

Main Results:

• Three core themes emerged: fostering a sense of belonging for participation, experiencing transformative personal growth, and navigating the complexities of masculine expectations.
• Group-based and culturally sensitive approaches appear beneficial for engagement.
• Fathers face challenges in balancing new parenting roles with traditional societal views of masculinity.

Conclusions:

• Interventions should prioritize creating inclusive environments and culturally relevant content.
• Addressing the tension between evolving fatherhood roles and traditional masculinity is essential for sustained engagement.
• Qualitative methodologies offer valuable insights for refining fatherhood intervention strategies.