Why the father wound matters: consequences for male mental health and the father-son relationship

Author:
MILLER Eric D.
Journal article citation:
Child Abuse Review, 22(3), 2013, pp.194-208.
Publisher:
Wiley

Adult men often report a sense of feeling a father wound when reflecting on their own father-son relationship. Perhaps in part due to a rejection of traditional fathering practices that may have contributed to such wounds, fathers today are increasingly adopting a ‘new involved father’ role that is more welcoming of emotional expression and involvement in a child's life. This paper argues that adopting this new role may allow men to not only connect with their sons, but also to come to terms with problematic aspects of their own father-son relationship. In this way, fathering a son may allow men to alter aspects of their self. Limitations and future directions for the father wound construct are also discussed. (Publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
fathers, parent-child relations, mental health, men, parental role, child abuse, child neglect, child development, emotions;
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1099-0852
ISSN print:
0952-9136

Key to icons

  • Free resource Free resource
  • Journal article Journal article
  • Book Book
  • Digital media Digital media
  • Journal Journal

Give us your feedback

Social Care Online continues to be developed in response to user feedback.

Contact us with your comments and for any problems using the website.

Sign up/login for more

Register/login to access resource links, advanced search and email alerts