Transition to Fatherhood

Within the life cycle, becoming parents represents an important event involving psychosocial changes in the life of the couple and that exerts repercussions on adult personality development. The birth of the baby happens within a contest that involves individuals close to the couple but also the extended social network. Parenthood is from some theorists defined as developmental phase or crisis. It is part of a long process that cannot put aside from how the individual represents couple relationship and parenthood and from how he experienced them during his childhood. It depends also on how he feels about having a new role, that is related to the sense of self and to separation and confront with his own parental figures. In conclusion, becoming parents need to give space for the baby, whose birth determines the readjustment of relationships both between parents and external environment and between the two members of the couple. Fatherhood is for some theorists as an object of investment for the period that goes from the beginning of pregnancy to the first months of the infant’s life. The present work provides specific methodological tools to study and better understand the theoretical construct of fatherhood.