The Perceptions of Fathers About Parenting a Child With Developmental Disability: A Scoping Review

Compared to mothers, research into the role and involvement of fathers in families with a child with a disability appears limited. The aim was to scope and critically appraise the available literature, with a focus on fathers' perceptions and experiences of their role in parenting a child with a developmental disability. A systematic search was conducted of research published from 2000 to 2017 that addressed the aim. Articles were included if data were available about fathers' experiences and/or perceptions of their role in relation to a child with disability; those addressing stress responses to fathering only were excluded. Information was extracted for summary. Twenty-one studies (12 quantitative, 9 qualitative), conducted across 10 countries, met inclusion criteria. Key themes of qualitative studies included the process of fathers adapting to their child's disability, planning for the future, involvement with health services and how their perceptions and experiences shaped their participation in the family. Results of quantitative studies demonstrated differences in experiences of fathers compared to mothers as well as in approaches fathers applied to cope with challenging experiences. The review highlights current gaps in understanding the experiences of fathers and their perceptions about their own roles in parenting a child with disability. There is a need for further research into factors that might influence fathers' participation within their families.