Father’s Experiences of Family Breakdown and Domestic Abuse

Previous research has begun to highlight the experiences of men who experience domestic violence and abuse. However, further exploration, including fathers’ experiences of postseparation abuse following family breakdown, is needed. This need is the result of several contextual factors (i.e., reductive parenting stereotypes) and practical issues (i.e., a higher likelihood of nonresident parent status) that place fathers at risk for postseparation abuse. The present study examined the testimony of 141 fathers (141 via survey and 30 via interview) who had experienced family breakdown, separation, and divorce within the last 5 years. Positioned within a wider thematic framework, this article specifically explores themes generated relating to family breakdown, separation, and divorce and domestic violence and abuse, including abuse experienced within the relationship, postseparation abuse, and parental alienation. Results suggest that fathers constitute a vulnerable group postseparation and that more support is required.