About the project
Background
The parent-child relationship is important for children's development. So far, however, the relationship between mothers and their children has been studied almost exclusively in this context. In contrast, the role of fathers has been neglected. Yet the child's relationship with the father is just as important.
Previous studies have made it clear that children's own experiences in childhood are particularly important for their upbringing. In addition, these experiences can influence one's own ideas of "being a father".
In addition to the father-child relationship, one's own childhood experiences can also have an impact on other areas of life.
In order to find out more about the influence and importance of fathers, the project "Fatherhood between youth welfare experiences and paternal competence" was carried out at the Fachhochschule Dortmund in cooperation with the University of Vienna.
Aim of the project
The long-term goal of this project was to develop recommendations for fathers and youth welfare professionals that would help to strengthen the father-child relationship. To this end, we spoke with fathers in a protected setting about their own childhood experiences and current relationships. We were also interested in how fathers interact with their biological, stepchildren or adopted children.
The prerequisites for participation were
Fathers, stepfathers or adoptive fathers and their families who had received long-term youth support (e.g. socio-educational family support, homes, foster families) during their childhood or adolescence.
It was not important whether the fathers, stepfathers or adoptive fathers live in the same household as their child/children, nor whether they have custody.
Sponsor
Jacobs Foundation
Further reading
- Volkert, L.R., Nowacki, K., Remiorz, S. & Ehlert, U. (in prep). Paternal and children's psychopathology in fathers with a history of contact with youth welfare: Exploring the role of steroid hormones.
- Nowacki, K., Remiorz, S., Mielke, V. & Gesing, A. (2021): Trauma, psychological distress and family situation of fathers with youth welfare experience: Implications for parenting support and therapy. Prax. Child Psychol. Child Psychiat. 70/2021, 154-169.
- Eickhorst, A. & Nowacki, K. (2019). Images of fathers. The role and importance of fathers in family and youth welfare. German child protection centers (ed.). Childhood - forgotten and measured, pp.269-278. Cologne: Eigendruck.
- Ahnert, L., Teufl, L., Ruiz, N., Piskernik, B., Supper, B., Remiorz, S., Gesing, A. & Nowacki, K. (2017). Father-Child Play during the preschool years and child internalizing behaviors: between robustness and vulnerability. Infant Mental Health Journal, Vol. 38(6), 743-756.
- Nowacki, K. (2017). Fathers: How do their own difficult childhood experiences influence their relationship with their children? PFAD 4/2017
