‘Driven by Love…’: Involved Fatherhood in Russian Families Raising Children with Disabilities

Abstract

Based on interviews with fathers from the families raising children with persistent health problems (N = 15), the article analyzes the models and resources of involved fatherhood. The authors present a conceptualization of involved paternity and reveal the actual meanings, roles, functions, gender attitudes, and ideas about the family of the fathers of special children. The study shows how the experience of upbringing in the parental family, the quality of marital relations, and the processes of family stability influence the involvement of fathers in the upbringing of children. The authors identify five following types of involved fatherhood in families with children with disabilities: “deep involvement at their own will”, “deep involvement out of necessity”, “harmonious involvement”, “moderate involvement at will”, and “moderate involvement out of necessity”.

Acknowledgments. The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of the Poject No. 19-011-00543.