Introduction: Women are more biologically involved in the parenting process than fathers. Hence, it is easy for them to adopt maternal identity. However, how men adapt this new paternal identity is the question this research tries to answer.
Purpose: To explore how paternal identity is constructed. To identify the key factors involved in this construction.
Method: It is a mixed-method study, where the first 11 fathers (residential & married) were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using Braun & Clarke's (2006) Thematic Analysis. Based on the themes the factors involved in construction of fatherhood identity were quantitatively analysed using questionnaires like Traditional Fatherhood Scale (Whatley, 2004), Work-Family Conflict Scale (Haslam et al., 2014), U-MICS Parental Identity Scale (Piotrowski, 2017), Maternal Gatekeeping Scale (Pinto, 2009), Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Busby et al., 1995) on the sample of 102 married residential fathers.
Result: Two major themes emerged: Construction of fatherhood identity (role of father, acceptance, evolving identity, key moments) and Factors shaping fatherhood identity (influence of own fathers' parenting, maternal gatekeeping, marital relationship, work profile, father's belief system). In the quantitative phase, factors like traditional fatherhood beliefs and family work conflict were negatively related to commitment to paternal identity. However, factors like consensus and traditional fatherhood beliefs were positively associated with reconsidering paternal identity. Consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion were negatively associated with reconsidering paternal identity. Among these factors, family work conflict was the strongest predictor of commitment to paternal identity. On the other hand, family work conflict and consensus stood out as the strongest predictors for reconsidering paternal identity.
Conclusion: Fatherhood identity is constructed over a period of time. Age, family context, beliefs, marital support, and family conflict level shape this dynamic construction process. The current research fills the gap by identifying the factors essential for fathers' identity development.