The Early Years of Parenthood and Home‐Start Home Visiting: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how parents experience the early years of parenthood and the impact of Home-Start home visiting support.

Contribution

The study provides new qualitative insights into the transformative journey of parents supported by Home-Start home visiting.

Findings

Parents experienced contrasting realities and multifaceted layers of parenthood.

Accepting help from Home-Start led to meaningful connections and positive effects for families.

Trusting relationships with early intervention services are crucial for supporting parents.

Abstract

To explore the lived experience of the early years of parenthood and the effect of Home‐Start home visiting, in light of the impact from the polycrisis on parenthood and the critical early years. Four semi structured interviews were conducted with five parents (three mothers and one couple [mother and father]) who had accessed Home‐Start Gloucestershire home visiting. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. There were four Group Experiential Themes, each with two subthemes, showing a transformative journey. Parents navigated contrasting realities and multifaceted layers of parenthood. Accepting help led to meaningful connections with Home‐Start creating a butterfly effect for families. The early years of parenthood are complex and emotive. It is difficult yet important for parents to access support, helped by trusting relationships with early intervention services. This qualitative research informs early intervention services highlighting their criticalness on parent experience.

Figures