Becoming a father: using a parental identity lens to understand how men make sense of expecting a child

First-time fathers may experience PLD differently than second- or third-time fathers, though for both, pregnancy is often seen as a time to prepare for their future father role, or their parental identity. Later in life, a strong parental identity can be especially influential on fathers’ mental health and wellbeing, and their involvement with their child(ren) which benefits their children and partners. Sixteen fathers living in the United States were interviewed about their experiences and understanding of their own involvement with a partner’s PLD, considering societal narratives of PLD and where, if at all, fathers fit into those narratives. From that project, a subset of those fathers specifically made sense of their experiences with PLD by discussing their current or future role as a father. For these participants, PLD was understood through a lens of their parental identity. A qualitative analysis guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and sensemaking theory led to the following themes: looking ahead, lackluster resources, and feeling inadequate. Implications for practitioners and future research are further discussed considering those themes.