Fathers Raising Motherless Children

Widowed Men Give Voice to Their Lived Experiences

McClatchey, Irene Searles

¹Department of Social Work and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, GA, USA

Irene Searles McClatchey, Department of Social Work and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, MD 4103, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA. Email: [email protected]

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying 76(4):p 307-327, March 2018. | DOI: 10.1177/0030222817693141

Little is known about the experiences of widowed men with dependent children. With such limited knowledge it is not clear how mental health professionals can assist this population. In this qualitative case study the researcher describes the experiences of ten widowed fathers from the Southeastern United States as they struggle with their new parenting responsibilities after the death of their wives and their children's mothers. The researcher used an inductive constant comparative method to reveal themes. The interview data revealed three themes: Ways to Cope, Concerns, and Newfound Respect. These themes and their subcategories are presented together with suggestions on how to assist widowers with dependent children.