Abstract

HENN, Camila Guedes  and  PICCININI, Cesar Augusto. Paternal experience and paternal involvement in the context of the Down Syndrome. Psic.: Teor. e Pesq. [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.4, pp. 623-631. ISSN 0102-3772.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-37722010000400006.

The aim of the present study was to investigate, through a qualitative approach, paternal involvement and paternal experience in the context of the Down Syndrome (DS. More specifically, it aimed to understand the impact of DS on paternal involvement and experience. Six fathers of children with DS were interviewed, whose children were between nine months and three years and three months. The results indicated that fathers had been participating actively in children's activities and caretaking, being responsible for several tasks, although the available time to spend with them was restricted because of their jobs. In spite of both objective (financial, time, job) and subjective difficulties (acceptance, sadness, preoccupation), they demonstrated good adaptation to their child with DS, being able to carry out their role as a father.

Keywords : paternal involvement; Down Syndrome; fatherhood.