I believe it's important for kids to know they have two parents

Parents' experiences of equally shared parental leave in Sweden

Bibliographic Data

ID2926203
AuthorsMonica Lidbeck (0000-0001-5178-1722, Maternal & Child Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, corresponding author), Petra K Boström (University of Gothenburg), Petra Boström (0000-0002-7952-8283, University of Gothenburg, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume38
Issue1
Pages413-431
Publication date2021-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407520961841
OpenAlexW3091555788
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited27

Mothers tend to be the primary caregivers of infants, but some governments encourage fathers to share this responsibility. The Swedish national parental insurance gives parents the opportunity to share their parental leave equally. This qualitative study explored experiences of equally shared parental leave and increased paternal involvement from the perspectives of both parents. Cohabiting mothers and fathers of 12 infants were interviewed individually. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three main themes were formed: (a) holding on to equal opportunities (b) transition of responsibility and control, and (c) gaining a mutual understanding. At the time around the shift, i.e. when the father took over as primary caregiver, parents described that they were holding on to the ideal of equality despite challenges, such as various degrees of emotional strain. They also emphasized the importance of mother's trust in the father's parenting skills, and for the father to hold on to daily routines when taking over the caregiving responsibilities. Sharing parental leave equally appeared to enrich the couple relationship by fostering a mutual understanding of each other's experiences. In policy and practice, both parents' engagement in the caregiving of young children needs to be recognized as changes in parental roles and gender norms evolve in modern family life

Developmental psychology · Ideal (ethics · Parenting skills · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Social Psychology

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