Paternal Role of Fathers in Families of Parents With Intellectual Disabilities: Views, Barriers and Facilitators in Fulfilling This Role

TL;DR

This study explores how fathers in families with parents who have intellectual disabilities view their role and what challenges and supports they face in being a father.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the paternal role and barriers/facilitators for fathers in families with parents with intellectual disabilities.

Findings

Fathers value their paternal role and aim to provide for the family and teach their children.

Barriers to fulfilling the paternal role exist at family, professional, and societal levels.

Facilitators include co-parenting, professional recognition, and support for parental roles.

Abstract

This study examined the paternal role of fathers from families headed by parents with intellectual disabilities, their views and their barriers and facilitators in fulfilling this role.

Nine fathers of families headed by parents with intellectual disabilities and 14 professionals were interviewed. Transcriptions were coded using a framework analysis.

Fathers find their paternal role important and want to fulfil it by providing for the family, doing activities and teaching their child. However, they are hampered in fulfilling their paternal role due to several barriers at the family, professional and societal levels. Facilitators are co‐parenting, recognising fathers in parenting support, working relations and supporting parents in roles and rights.

The awareness of the importance of the paternal role in parenting should increase. Professionals should support both mothers and fathers in fulfilling their parental roles to improve parental rights and the development and well‐being of their children.