Presentation Date: Feb 14, 2026
AGSA Abstract
Fathers’ Lived Experiences of Child Custody after Family Breakdown, Separation or Divorce Abstract Research consistently shows that fathers’ involvement supports children’s resilience, school success, and emotional well-being, yet many fathers are marginalized in custody processes after family breakdown, separation, or divorce. This phenomenological study drew on 60-minute Zoom interviews with five fathers to examine their lived experiences regarding child custody. Using inductive coding and thematic analysis, the study identified patterns of intense emotional distress, financial strain, and perceptions of both societal and judicial bias, including constraints on fathers’ ability to invest in their children as a result of high legal costs. All Fathers reported receiving help through the means of counseling, peer support, faith, and nonprofit organizations amid custody challenges. The findings project the need for gender-neutral custody policies, bias-aware professional practice, requests for the family court to determine child custody after a thorough review of a social investigation by social workers, and not basing custody on what a parent says. There is also a need to provide a system to hold custodial mothers accountable, to allow fathers to see their children, and to protect children's right to both parents. Lastly, there is a need to educate financially stable parents about child support without feelings of exploitation, encourage society to embrace single fathers as equal parents, and expand research focused on fathers.
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