Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore fathers’ perceptions about their role in the family, and the charac-
teristics of their involvement in their children’s lives in the Colombian context. The sample consisted of 12
Colombian fathers. The study used a qualitative methodology, one-hour in depth interviews were conducted
with the participants. Results indicated important changes in the role of fathers and mothers in Colombian
families. Fathers’ perceptions departed to some extent from the traditional pattern attributed to nuclear fami-
lies, where men are considered as the only economic provider and authority figure in the family. This depar-
ture places fathers in a category we would call “in transition”, which includes perceptions of more equitable
parental roles within the family and a combination of features from other typologies of fatherhood proposed
in the literature. Fathers also reported a desire to participate more at home and to be more involved in their
children’s lives; they also emphasized the importance of expressing love and affection to their children.
Work-family conflict and the impact of the quality of the father-child relationship emerged as important
categories in the fathers’ perceptions of their role and involvement in the family. In Colombia research on
fathers is scarce and family policies mainly focus on mothers as the principal caregiver. A better understan-
ding of fathers’ roles and involvement in the family and with children will contribute to the development of
programs and policies oriented toward all family members and family relationship systems.
teristics of their involvement in their children’s lives in the Colombian context. The sample consisted of 12
Colombian fathers. The study used a qualitative methodology, one-hour in depth interviews were conducted
with the participants. Results indicated important changes in the role of fathers and mothers in Colombian
families. Fathers’ perceptions departed to some extent from the traditional pattern attributed to nuclear fami-
lies, where men are considered as the only economic provider and authority figure in the family. This depar-
ture places fathers in a category we would call “in transition”, which includes perceptions of more equitable
parental roles within the family and a combination of features from other typologies of fatherhood proposed
in the literature. Fathers also reported a desire to participate more at home and to be more involved in their
children’s lives; they also emphasized the importance of expressing love and affection to their children.
Work-family conflict and the impact of the quality of the father-child relationship emerged as important
categories in the fathers’ perceptions of their role and involvement in the family. In Colombia research on
fathers is scarce and family policies mainly focus on mothers as the principal caregiver. A better understan-
ding of fathers’ roles and involvement in the family and with children will contribute to the development of
programs and policies oriented toward all family members and family relationship systems.
| Translated title of the contribution | Percepciones del padre sobre su rol e involucramiento en la familia: un estudio cualitativo en una muestra colombiana |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Pages (from-to) | 161-178 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Revista Costarricense de Psicología |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 01 Jun 2016 |