The Anxious Achiever More Than Breadwinners: The Mental Health of Working Fathers
Jun 26, 2024
Professor Brad Harrington and former TV anchor Liam Martin discuss the mental health struggles of working fathers, highlighting the lack of support and societal expectations. They share personal stories of balancing work and family life, managing role conflict, and prioritizing mental health. The podcast explores the challenges faced by working dads in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and the importance of open communication and support from partners.
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Shift in Fatherhood Expectations
- Fatherhood expectations have shifted from breadwinner to involved caregiver over the last decade.
- Media portrayals still lag behind, often showing fathers as incompetent or clueless.
Fathers' Role Conflict
- Fathers face conflicting pressures to provide financially and be equally engaged at home.
- This role conflict leads many dads to feel unsuccessful in both areas.
Fathers Lack Support Networks
- Men lack informal or formal spaces to discuss mental health and parenting struggles.
- There is no established 'tribe' for fathers like there is for mothers to share emotional challenges.