"You just have to spread it thin": Perceptions and feeding experiences of Australian fathers of young children living with disadvantage

Abstract

The role of fathers in feeding is an emerging field within child feeding literature. Fathers have unique contributions to make to family mealtimes and child eating behaviours. However, qualitative research on fathers' experiences is limited, especially in the context of disadvantage. This study explored fathers' perceptions of their roles and feeding practices and their lived experience of disadvantage through a symbolic interactionism lens. Twenty-five Australian fathers of children aged six months to five years who experienced socioeconomic disadvantage participated in semi-structured interviews. Five themes were constructed from reflexive thematic analysis: (i) responsibilities for foodwork are based on strengths, opportunities, and values, (ii) negotiating fatherhood identity from a place of tension to acceptance, (iii) struggling with financial and mental strain, and food insecurity, (iv) managing adversity whist prioritising feeding children, and (v) paternal feeding practices are driven by values, adversity, and emotions. The division of foodwork was contingent on family capability and employment, maternal gatekeeping, paternal attitudes and values, and intergenerational, cultural and gender norms around earning and childrearing. Economic, environmental, and emotional stressors triggered changes to fathers' feeding practices, often contradicting their ideals (e.g., providing alternative meals, using rewards and electronic devices, unstructured settings). Fathers described income and food-based strategies to protect children's food intake, which may involve caregivers forgoing meals. These findings provide insight into fathers' feeding experiences through recognising personal, interpersonal, and systemic enablers and barriers. Promoting optimal feeding practices should include targeted feeding support and broader structural interventions to address inequality. Fathers' experiences as they navigate child mealtime interactions within a context of adversity can be used to inform child feeding interventions to improve child health and development.

Keywords: Fathers; Feeding practices; Food insecurity; Mealtimes; Qualitative; Responsive feeding.