Fathers of Teenage Children

In the 1980s, the concept of “new,” “active,” or “involved” fathers emerged in Western industrialized societies. These fathers were expected to participate more in daily childcare, foster expressive and intimate relationships with their children, and actively support their children’s socialization process (Rotundo, 1985). In recent years, numerous national and international studies have focused on these new, active fathers and their contributions to family work and childcare, investigating barriers and facilitating factors for increased paternal involvement.

Fatherhood research in German-speaking countries has so far primarily concentrated on paternal caregiving during early childhood. The few studies addressing fathers and teenagers report a decrease in caregiving time in favor of shared leisure activities and personal conversations. These conversations tend to center on topics external to the family, such as school, sports, and politics. This external world is undergoing social transformation and is shaped by major political “megatrends” that affect families, often via the media. These include climate change, digitalization, and societal polarization. Families are considered key arenas of political education. During adolescence, children develop their political thinking, often in dialogue with their parents’ views. However, little is known about how political education within families takes place. The core of this study is therefore the relationship between fathers and their teenage children. The focus on fathers is particularly relevant since they are often the first male role models for children, and questions of masculinity run like a thread through many major societal debates of our time. The goal is to explore democratic practices within the context of fatherhood to better understand how family relationships and societal demands interact.

The study uses a mixed-methods design. To gain insight into father-child interaction and father-child relationships involving teenage children, the subproject at DJI will conduct a secondary data analysis of several waves of the AID:A Survey with cross-sectional questions. Specifically, the analysis will employ the AID:A 2019 and 2023 waves, supplemented by the AID:A Panel 2018, which focused on experiences in one’s family of origin and current family ideals among adolescents. The EHL project will conduct episodic individual interviews with fathers and teenagers from diverse backgrounds and with different political views to capture the perspectives of both generations. The results aim to provide impulses for fatherhood engagement, political education, and family counseling.

LaRossa, Ralph (1988): Fatherhood and Social Change. In: Family Relations, 37. Jg., S. 451–457

Parke, Ross D. (2000): Father Involvement. In: Marriage & Family Review, 29. Jg., H. 2-3, S. 43–58

Parke, Ross D. (2002): Fathers and Families. In: Bornstein, Marc (Hrsg.): Handbook of Parenting

Possinger, Johanna (2013): Vaterschaft im Spannungsfeld von Erwerbs- und Familienleben. Wiesbaden

Rotundo, E. Anthony (1985): American Fatherhood. A Historical Perspective. In: American Behavioral Scientist, 29. Jg., H. 1, S. 7–25

Seiffge-Krenke/von Irmer, Jörg (2004): Wie erleben Väter Familienbeziehungen während der turbu-lenten Zeit der Adoleszenz ihrer Kinder? In: Zeitschrift für Familienforschung, 15. Jg., H. 2, S. 144–155