The meaning of men's experiences of becoming and being fathers, in men who have subjected their partners to violence

• A phenomenological hermeneutic approach was used to illuminate the meaning of the lived experience of becoming a father, in men who had subjected their partners to violence. Ten fathers were interviewed. Four themes were developed: being forced to take responsibility; being afraid that the violence will continue in subsequent generations; striving to stay in control; and being a “good enough” father. The transition to becoming a father is a demanding process with ambiguous emotions, and the situation is especially difficult when the men have a history of violent behavior. The men clearly distinguished between the pregnant woman and the unborn child. Although they exercised violence against the women, they wanted to make their children safe, to protect them from violence, and to become good fathers.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

becoming father

pregnancy

intimate partner violence

phenomenology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)