Between a "ball and chain" and a "half-full glass": Work-family balance experiences of fathers to children with disabilities.

Abstract

Parents of children with disabilities often struggle to balance work, caregiving for their child, and family responsibilities. Previous studies have not sufficiently focused on fathers' experiences in balancing work with their family commitments. Informed by boundary theory, this study examines how fathers experience the integration of work and family and the coping strategies they use to enable this balance. The research was conducted using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Semistructured interviews were held with 12 fathers of young children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The fathers reported challenges that hindered their ability to integrate and balance work and family life. Alongside these difficulties, they emphasized positive elements and acceptance of their fatherhood while describing cognitions and behaviors that helped them cope with the challenges of work-family balance. The findings highlight the vulnerability of fathers of children with disabilities in the workplace and the significant challenges they face in balancing work and family life. This highlights their need for support and, more broadly, the need for changes in policy and legislation related to the employment of fathers of children with disabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).