"I feel pressure from work, pressure from my partner to be more involved which conflicts with my work, pressure to help her more, pressure from myself to be a good dad."
Earlier in the year, 52% of dads we surveyed told us that balancing work and family was challenging or very challenging. 69% said their mental health or wellbeing has deteriorated. The results of the FNS 2020 and 2021 surveys provided invaluable feedback that has inspired further exploration of fathers’ experiences of COVID-19.
Kelsi Moran, a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, is working with FNS to learn more about the effects of the pandemic on dads through survey research.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has presented all of us with unique challenges and experiences. For many of us, our day-to-day activities and interactions were vastly different from 2019. We were all working to make sense of the copious amounts of information and the continuously changing climate. FNS 2020 and 2021 survey respondents expressed changes in mental health, time spent with their child(ren), and adjustments in attitudes towards work and parenting.
The aim of this survey is to measure fathers’ wellbeing, behavioural and attitudinal adjustments around domestic labour and flexible working, and how these themes relate to the process of meaning-making in the face of adversity.
This is an online self-completion survey that is voluntary, and all responses will be anonymous. The survey should take only 10 minutes or less to complete. Fathers Network Scotland will be using this research for their new series of corporate training sessions, as well as assisting the charity to make their case for why employers and policy must take the role of fatherhood seriously.
We would greatly appreciate you taking the time to provide insight into your experiences as a father living through COVID-19."
If you have any questions, please contact Kelsi Moran at [email protected]