Transition to Fatherhood: Exploring Experiences of First-Time Fathers

The trend towards nucleation in the Indian society has resulted in an increasing emphasis on the new father and his involvement, and hence, utilising a phenomenological approach, the subjective experiences of seven Indian men, who had recently journeyed into fatherhood, were explored. In-depth interviews were conducted and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results depict a variety of experiential perspectives and meanings, along with certain influential factors such as the importance of preparation, perceived need to actively participate and having male friends who have also recently become fathers. Specific to the Indian context are extended family support and the interplay between traditional role expectations and modern demands, elucidating how cultural ideologies impact aspects of this transition.