"I know it looks like I'm leaving, but I'm not leaving you": nonresidential father identities after divorce

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This study produces a grounded theory of how 20 men experience the transition from married, residential fatherhood to divorced, nonresidential fatherhood. The core phenomenon that emerged from this study was that all of the fathers believed they were involved. Their Involved Father identities were maintained by being physically, fiscally, and psychologically involved. Nine barriers and eight supports that influenced fathers' involvement were identified. Those who perceived more supports than barriers to their involvement were more likely to be highly committed to their Involved Father identities than those who did not. The findings of this study suggest that involvement is a subjective concept that is dependent on each man's experience with divorced nonresidential fatherhood.