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“I’ve Fixed Things Up”: Paternal Identity of Substance‐Dependent Fathers
Author(s) -
Peled Einat,
GavrielFried Belle,
Katz Noam
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00729.x
Subject(s) - psychology , identity (music) , addiction , developmental psychology , social psychology , identity formation , perception , substance use , self concept , clinical psychology , psychiatry , physics , neuroscience , acoustics
This study deals with how substance‐dependent men perceive their paternal identity. Data were based on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 12 Israeli fathers who were enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment. Content analysis revealed that participants had undergone a process of parental identity formation composed of four distinct stages: absence, awakening, taking responsibility, and resolution to re‐form oneself as a father. The discussion highlights the developmental nature of this process. Also discussed are the effects of three factors on the formation of paternal identity: the treatment for addiction, the subjects' newfound identity as “clean addicts,” and social perceptions and discourses about fatherhood and addiction.