Exploring fathers’ involvement in child caring during the COVID-19 pandemic in urban areas

Abstract

A father is a person whose absence makes a child's life empty. Fathers are always beside their children in every well and woe. Several state-of-the-art studies reveal that fathers' involvement in child caring is correlated with children's holistic growth and development. Fathers' involvement in child care determines the quality and stability of the relationship between father and child (Norman et al., 2018). Since the COVID-19 pandemic influenced every human's life, especially children's, fathers' involvement is essential for supporting their development and well-being in such emergencies. The purpose of the study is to explore fathers' involvement in child caring during the COVID-19 pandemic in urban areas through qualitative research. Group discussions and in-depth interviews (IDIs) have been conducted to collect the data. The findings section is divided into themes and sub-themes. First, the study discovered that most participants have the concept of child caring and fathers' involvement and impact of COVID-19. Second, the study's findings revealed that fathers have been doing different activities in supporting children's development. Third, all participants mentioned that fathers face various challenges regarding their involvement in child caring; they try to overcome the difficulties and get involved in child caring. Based on the findings and discussions, this study suggests a few recommendations. Finally, the report is concluded with future research directions and the urge for more elaborative and exploratory research in the area.