FATHER-CHILD DISCONNECTION AFTER DIVORCE: The experiences and the subjective well-being of fathers with foreign backgrounds
Gyimah, Godfred (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202104265892
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202104265892
Tiivistelmä
This qualitative research explored Father-child disconnection after divorce: the experiences and the subjective well-being of 5 fathers with foreign backgrounds after being separated or away from their children in Finland. A lot of studies have been done about the effects of post-divorce father-child relationship. However, research that focuses on the post-divorce experiences and the subjective well-being of fathers with foreign backgrounds after child-disconnection are hard to find. The achieved results were through semi-structured interview and inductive content analysis approaches. The goal of the study was to understand and describe four milieus of fathers with foreign backgrounds after divorces. Including fathers’ experiences, perception about fatherhood role, perceptions about their subjective wellbeing, and identified means of coping with the negative emotions, if any.
The results revealed that fathers with foreign backgrounds had quality relationships with their children and deeply involved in childcaring before divorce. However, fathers perceived the quality relationship with children, the leisure time, their role as fathers and right for visitation have been disrespected and somehow curtailed, and this has endangered their health, well-being, and life. Again, fathers with foreign backgrounds deemed children as their life, image, blood, primacy, and the most valuable aspect in their lives. It also uncovered fathers with foreign backgrounds’ perception of experiencing early alienation from children, gender inequality, judicial and welfare uncertainties. Social networking was identified as the coping mechanism for fathers. Building quality environment before divorce was found essential for post-divorce relationship with children and the family. However, it was revealed that most fathers with foreign backgrounds had limited understanding about the divorce and custody mediation norms in Finland.
Based on the results this study concluded that it would be essential that divorcees, and professionals working with families, focus on supporting positive relationship between couples and simultaneously help children to maintain a quality relationship with both parents after divorce.
The results revealed that fathers with foreign backgrounds had quality relationships with their children and deeply involved in childcaring before divorce. However, fathers perceived the quality relationship with children, the leisure time, their role as fathers and right for visitation have been disrespected and somehow curtailed, and this has endangered their health, well-being, and life. Again, fathers with foreign backgrounds deemed children as their life, image, blood, primacy, and the most valuable aspect in their lives. It also uncovered fathers with foreign backgrounds’ perception of experiencing early alienation from children, gender inequality, judicial and welfare uncertainties. Social networking was identified as the coping mechanism for fathers. Building quality environment before divorce was found essential for post-divorce relationship with children and the family. However, it was revealed that most fathers with foreign backgrounds had limited understanding about the divorce and custody mediation norms in Finland.
Based on the results this study concluded that it would be essential that divorcees, and professionals working with families, focus on supporting positive relationship between couples and simultaneously help children to maintain a quality relationship with both parents after divorce.