Fatherhood as a transformative process unexpected successes among high risk fathers

Abstract

Understanding the processes through which fathers meet the challenge of parenthood is critical to the development of policies and practices designed to support fragile families. This chapter focuses on a sample of young, high-risk fathers who made a better than expected adjustment to parenthood. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods we found that, despite significant individual and social disadvantages, these fathers developed relational capacities associated with positive parenting. These capacities included a growth-oriented perspective on the co-parenting relationship, a commitment to shared responsibility for taking care of the co-parenting relationship, and a willingness to empathize with their co-parenting partner. Case studies illustrate the transformation of these young fathers and underscore the role of the co-parenting relationship in the development of these critical relational capacities. Discussion focuses on the importance of studying unexpected successes for the development of effective interventions. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.