Perceptions of parenting twins as experienced by fathers: A qualitative study

This study aims to qualitatively explore how fathers raising twins acquire their paternal roles and how their perceptions and attitudes change throughout the parenting process. The study was conducted through online semi-structured interviews with 10 fathers of twins, based on an interview guide. A qualitative inductive method was employed to analyze and structure fathers perceptions of childcare. An exploratory net was created from 388 labels, following which categories were derived through multi-stage pick-up, and groups were formed and illustrated. The resulting structure illustrated a dynamic process in which fathers, who were unable to fully comprehend what it meant to become a father of twins during pregnancy, confronted the unexpected realities of twin parenting after birth. This led to not only psychological and emotional challenges, but also gradual adaptations and transformations. The findings underscore the need for early interventions to support fathers and contribute to the development of comprehensive support systems that consider the complexities of parenting twins. In the future, developing phased support programs for fathers-- beginning in the prenatal period--and promoting broader social understanding involving families, communities, and workplaces will be essential in fostering environments that enable sustainable work-life balance for fathers.