Responsiveness in Father-Child Relationships: The Experience of Fathers

Abstract

Qualitative interviews with 215 fathers describe the emergent and responsive nature of the father-child relationship and its consequent influence on fathers themselves. Using a social constructionist or dialogic model of relationships, we highlight the importance of understanding the experience of fathers as they are actively engaged in responsive, relational, and interactional activities with their children. Fathers’ descriptions of responsiveness highlight father- child interaction “in the moment,” attention to children’s expression of needs, and the influence of fathers’ own sets of priorities and values. A critical element of responsiveness to children is that it requires shared time between fathers and their children. Responsiveness within the father-child relationship facilitates children’s development and also provides fathers with opportunities to develop and understand themselves differently. The current study contributes to understanding men’s development and the fathering experience by specifically exploring the influence on men of engaging in fathering, of attending to their children and experiencing their own responsiveness.

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