Nonresident fathers' seeking continuity in relationships with their children: Commitment, personal change, and reliance on others

Objective

To explore intrinsic and extrinsic factors that help nonresident fathers' continuing relationships with their children.

Background

Research on nonresident fathers tends to focus on rates or trajectories of contact and the perspectives or experiences of children or others and highlights significant barriers to development and maintenance of relationships between nonresident fathers and their children. What helps the growth and development of nonresident fathers' relationships with their children are less well understood and less frequently researched. This research sought to fill the gap in the literature of what is known that helps nonresident fathers maintain meaningful relationships with their children.

Method

A qualitative research approach was chosen using thematic analysis of semistructured, in-depth interviews. Recruitment was via social media and community sites targeting nonresident fathers after divorce.

Results

Participants highlighted deep commitment to ongoing fathering and a deep desire for meaningful relationships with children. The experience of divorce had a highly negative impact, but some positives emerged that enhanced their relationship. Significant others played contingent roles helping participants improve their relationships with their children.

Conclusion

Continuity of relationships with children was the direct result of participants' actions to remain involved and their ongoing commitment to their children through strong and unwavering fatherhood role salience. These factors, together with actions for self-improvement, managing change, and fostering cooperative relationships with relevant others, helped fathers maintain positive engagement and relationships with their children.

Implications

The nonresident fathers in this study relied on their own initiatives, resilience, and resources to remain engaged with their children. Policies and programs should respond to and encourage the development of policies and programs that help nonresident fathers' relationships with children in practical and meaningful ways.