Contextualizing Fatherhood Experiences: An Ecological Qualitative Study on Never-Married Fathers’ Experiences as Romantic Partners and Parents

Nonmarital pregnancies provide both a unique relationship milestone and a transition to parenthood for unwed couples. Previous literature has found that couples with a nonmarital pregnancy are more likely to experience conflict, declining relationship satisfaction, and romantic relationship termination by the child’s fifth birthday. As a result, never-married fathers' involvement in parenting is more likely to decrease if the romantic relationship between the parents ends. Although there is abundant research on father involvement and nonmarital pregnancies, previous literature centers on the accounts of the mother, not the father. The present study uses in-depth interviews with a sample of never-married, first-time fathers with a child between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old (N = 20) to investigate how various contexts, relationships, and resources shape a father’s parenting experiences. Using grounded theory, an ecological model that explores the various systems of fatherhood was developed. The results of this study suggest that sociocultural scripts, such as scripts for masculinity, fatherhood, and relationships, influence how fathers perceive their role as both a parent and partner. Resources such as access to a stable income, positive support networks of family and friends, and mental health management and other intrapersonal skills are all influential for a father’s transition to parenthood. Based on their scripts for fatherhood and masculinity and their resources, fathers tended to engage in hybrid fatherhood, which combines both traditional forms of masculinity like the breadwinner role and a more emotionally involved role. Fathers’ romantic relationship with the mother also tended to co-construct their coparenting relationship with her. For those in a romantic relationship with the mother, the coparenting relationship enhanced their overall relationship. Those no longer romantically involved tended to parent apart. Overall, results indicate that multiple contexts and relationships are associated with overall father involvement and parenting self-efficacy.