Involuntarily Childless Men and the Desire for Fatherhood

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29: 1, 56-68, 2011

14 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2013 Last revised: 1 Mar 2023

See all articles by Robin Hadley

Robin Hadley

Manchester Metropolitan University

Terry Hanley

The University of Manchester

Date Written: January 1, 2011

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore the experience of childless men and the desire for fatherhood.

Background: There is little research exploring the desire for fatherhood, with most studies concentrating on couples in infertility treatment. Of those, the majority focus on the women’s experience, a factor that may reflect the gender stereotype and cultural identification of childlessness to women.

Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted. A convenience sample of 10 biologically childless men were recruited through the snowball method and interviewed individually. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and transcripts were then analysed using Grounded Theory.

Results: A core category, ‘Lifescape’s of childless men: enduring anticipation and expectation in an uncharted world’, divided into three meta themes: Emotive Forces, Extant Agency, and Life Course. The desire for parenthood appeared to peak in the 30s, gradually reduced, but did not cease. The participants also revealed a sense of ‘outsiderness’ in familial, social, and work relationships.

Conclusion: Involuntarily childless men reported similar experiences to those in, or who have had, infertility treatment. These included a sense of loss, depression, exclusion, isolation, and risk-taking behaviour. Over the life course the men also found ways to adapt and reappraise their beliefs concerning themselves emotionally, psychologically and socially. To help understand this process, gender-role therapy is presented as a possible approach for working with childless men.

Keywords: childless, men, involuntary childlessness, psychosocial, mental health, interviews, qualitative method, grounded theory, masculinity, fatherhood, parenthood, infertility

Suggested Citation

Hadley, Robin and Hanley, Terry, Involuntarily Childless Men and the Desire for Fatherhood (January 1, 2011). Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29: 1, 56-68, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2325908

Robin Hadley (Contact Author)

Manchester Metropolitan University ( email )

All Saints
Manchester, M15 6BH
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://robinhadley.co.uk

Terry Hanley

The University of Manchester ( email )

Oxford Road
Manchester, N/A M13 9PL
United Kingdom

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