Dissertation Defence: The Data on Dads: Fatherhood Identity and Parenting Practices in Adolescence
March 17 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Marcus Gottlieb, supervised by Dr. Jessica Lougheed will defend their dissertation titled “The Data on Dads: Fatherhood Identity and Parenting Practices in Adolescence” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology.
An abstract for Marcus Gottlieb’s dissertation is included below.
Examinations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. This examination will be offered in hybrid format. Registration is not required to attend in person; however, please email jessica.lougheed@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for the exam.
Abstract
Fathers play a critical role in adolescent development, yet research on fatherhood during this stage remains limited. Guided by identity theory (IT), self-determination theory (SDT), and social cognitive theory (SCT), this dissertation investigates how fathers perceive and fulfill their roles during adolescence and how these processes are linked to parenting practices and family relationships. A pilot study (N = 8) used focus groups with fathers of adolescents to surface language and priorities that informed recruitment and interview design. Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey of 214 fathers in British Columbia. Fathers completed the Fathers’ Perceptions of Fatherhood Scale (FPFS) and the Ghent Parental Behaviour Scale (GPBS). Results indicated that perceiving greater personal growth from parenting was associated with higher supportive practices, whereas greater parenting strain was associated with more controlling responses. Several associations varied by employment status, community size, and ethnicity, underscoring the role of contextual conditions in shaping reported behaviour. Study 2 used Interpretive Description (ID) to guide the design and conduct of in-depth interviews with fathers of adolescents (N = 20), including sampling, interview approach, and interpretive stance. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). Three interconnected themes characterizing fathering during adolescence emerged: (1) sustaining father adolescent bonds through open communication, meaningful time, and learning through challenges (Evolving Bonds); (2) translating guiding aims into practice with an adaptive, warm structured style that uses modelling and ongoing calibration (Shaping Fatherhood); and (3) context as an equal driver, whereby external conditions such as geography, safety, service access, work demands, co-parenting networks, and cultural identity, and inner capacities and histories such as upbringing, health, emotion regulation, and beliefs shape strategies and help sustain presence (Context in Action). Taken together, the studies position adolescence as formative not only for youth but also for fathers’ identity and sense of purpose. The findings reveal associations between identity and parenting, as well as qualitatively, feedback loops in which contextual realities influence relational strategies and identity goals. This work advances understanding of fatherhood in an underexamined developmental period. It also underscores the need for father-inclusive supports and policies that pair reflective identity work with structural resources, recognizing fathers of adolescents as active, emotionally engaged caregivers.
