Scientists from the University of East Anglia and Lancaster University, made a ground breaking, detailed study of the difficulties, lives and roles of fathers involved in care and recurrent care proceedings in England. The researchers analysed anonymised family court records for more than 73,000 fathers, and mapped fathers’ life histories, family and parenting relationships, and encounters with local authorities and the family court.
Fathers involved in recurrent care proceedings
According to the article, the rate of recurrence for fathers was lower than that of mothers, and there were very few lone fathers in recurrent care proceedings, whereas many cases featured lone mothers. But just like the mothers involved in repeat care proceedings, fathers were likely to be younger, and to lose infants from their care.
Histories of childhood adversity
The study found that both the mothers and fathers involved in care proceedings shared a lack of support, unstable or harmful relationships with caregivers, and other difficulties in early life. Fathers described deep and long-lasting emotional pain, grief and shame following the loss of children, and a desire to play some ongoing parenting role. Couple conflict and its impact on parenting were key reasons why fathers and couples became stuck in a cycle of family court involvement.
Economic hardship a key factor
Unemployment, precarious employment and poverty were experienced by interviewed fathers as having a strong impact on relationships and parenting capacity. Although fathers should be as responsible for caring for children as mothers, they also need parental support and help.