Decision to Take on a Father’s Role of Thai-Muslim Adolescents: A Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Adolescent father, Father’s role, Islamic teachings, Role models, Transition to fatherhoodAbstract
This study employed a descriptive qualitative research design aimed to investigate the key factors of the decision-making process of Thai-Muslim adolescents in taking on the role of father for the first-time.
Methods: A total of 14 participants who were Thai-Muslim first-time fathers aged 16 to 19 years and lived with their wife for at least six months. The data were collected with in-depth interviews and non-participant observation and analyzed using content analysis.
Results found that the decision to adopt the fathering role was perceived as a movement from ‘worry’ to ‘happiness’, and was supported primarily by two main factors: Islamic teachings and Father as a role model. These factors enabled a true significant changeover, and the adolescent father’s role began to shift from ‘Accepting the onset of pending fatherhood and trying to confront it’ to ' Shouldering the burdens, responsibilities and joys of fatherhood’
Both religious beliefs and family role models are important in helping Thai-Muslim adolescent fathers build confidence in their new family roles. These findings can help healthcare professionals to develop support mechanisms to allow adolescent fathers to perform their roles.
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