Paternidade e geratividade na transição para a parentalidade

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to understand father involvement and generativity of the couple in the transition to parenthood. We conducted a study of categorical content analysis with eight young couples who were in the last trimester of pregnancy through a marital interview based on the Clinical Interview Generational (ECG). The results suggest that talking about parental involvement implies, at first, to realize his early desire to be a father and to integrate the contradictory feelings, above all, joy and worry. Later, he will have to accept the child, imagine him and try to establish a relationship with him. When this happens, the father awaits, integrates his indirect place of support to his wife and searches for a way to support his son. Simultaneously, in this transition, multiple redefinitions of identity happen, not just to the father but also to the couple. In fact, before the birth of the child, the couple is formed, and only afterwards mature the desire to become parents. Pregnancy is associated with desires, experiences and transmissions that they wish to pass to the next generation. In addition, the transition implies specific developmental tasks as man and woman, as parents, as children and as members of a social community. This study reinforces the importance of keeping up the research in the area of parenting, and raised questions for future investigations to dig deeper.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Fabrizia Raguso (Supervisor)