Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court
Background: this study builds on existing research on fathers’ experiences of family breakdown, separation, and post-separation abuse, exploring the systemic challenges they face in negotiating co-parenting arrangements. Methods: using data from a survey of 141 fathers and interviews with 30 partici...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/29 |
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| author | Benjamin Hine Eilish Mairi Roy Ching-Yu Huang Elizabeth Bates |
| author_facet | Benjamin Hine Eilish Mairi Roy Ching-Yu Huang Elizabeth Bates |
| author_sort | Benjamin Hine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: this study builds on existing research on fathers’ experiences of family breakdown, separation, and post-separation abuse, exploring the systemic challenges they face in negotiating co-parenting arrangements. Methods: using data from a survey of 141 fathers and interviews with 30 participants, we examined the dynamics of post-separation co-parenting, particularly focusing on how fathers perceive and navigate family court systems. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: the findings highlighted two primary themes: the difficulties that fathers face in establishing equitable co-parenting arrangements and their negative experiences with family courts, including perceptions of gender bias and systemic inefficiency. Conclusions: the results indicate a need for greater support mechanisms post-separation to facilitate healthier co-parenting relationships and minimise reliance on adversarial court processes. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of addressing gender stereotypes within family law and social services to ensure more just outcomes for fathers and their children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-05182e03cd9a49fb848aa15f6c8343dc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-05182e03cd9a49fb848aa15f6c8343dc2025-01-24T13:49:43ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-01-011412910.3390/socsci14010029Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family CourtBenjamin Hine0Eilish Mairi Roy1Ching-Yu Huang2Elizabeth Bates3School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, London W5 5RF, UKNational Crime Agency, London SE11 5EF, UKCambridge Alliance of Legal Psychology, London N14 5BP, UKInstitute of Health, University of Cumbria, Carlisle CA1 2HH, UKBackground: this study builds on existing research on fathers’ experiences of family breakdown, separation, and post-separation abuse, exploring the systemic challenges they face in negotiating co-parenting arrangements. Methods: using data from a survey of 141 fathers and interviews with 30 participants, we examined the dynamics of post-separation co-parenting, particularly focusing on how fathers perceive and navigate family court systems. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: the findings highlighted two primary themes: the difficulties that fathers face in establishing equitable co-parenting arrangements and their negative experiences with family courts, including perceptions of gender bias and systemic inefficiency. Conclusions: the results indicate a need for greater support mechanisms post-separation to facilitate healthier co-parenting relationships and minimise reliance on adversarial court processes. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of addressing gender stereotypes within family law and social services to ensure more just outcomes for fathers and their children.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/29co-parenting negotiationsfamily court biaspost-separation conflictfatherhoodgender stereotypes |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Hine Eilish Mairi Roy Ching-Yu Huang Elizabeth Bates Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court Social Sciences co-parenting negotiations family court bias post-separation conflict fatherhood gender stereotypes |
| title | Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court |
| title_full | Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court |
| title_fullStr | Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court |
| title_short | Fathers’ Experiences of Negotiating Co-Parenting Arrangements and Family Court |
| title_sort | fathers experiences of negotiating co parenting arrangements and family court |
| topic | co-parenting negotiations family court bias post-separation conflict fatherhood gender stereotypes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/29 |
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