Becoming a Parent: The development of the parental process

Abstract

Among the transitions that family system faces, the transition to parenthood is highlighted as one of the most dramatic and intense. It adds complexity to the family system and requires identity and role reorganization. This study aimed to understand the transition to a parenthood role during the child’s first year of life. The Grounded Theory and semi-structured interviews (a total of 75) were used, complemented by observation, on five data collection moments. The emerging explanatory theory evidences that becoming a father or a mother as a complex identity transforming process, which occurs in continuous interaction with multiple interrelated systems and overheads the temporality of the parental condition. The methodology adopted in the study allowed the understanding of the psychosocial nature of the parenthood phenomenon, bringing knowledge that constitutes a reflexion and awareness point towards change and innovation in the matter of nursing practice with families.

Keywords

• Parentalidade
• Teoria Fundamentada
• Enfermagem.