Psychology students shine spotlight on overlooked ‘dads' voices’ in research partnership

Students at the University of South Wales (USW) have helped uncover gaps in support as part of an innovative research partnership with Children in Wales and Torfaen Council.

As part of their dissertations for the BSc (Hons) Childhood Development course, the students set out to understand the experiences of fathers in Wales, the support they receive, and their views on children’s rights.

The study was led by the Parents Connect Wales project, ‘Empowering the voices of parents and carers to promote children’s rights’, which sits within Children in Wales. They highlighted the lack of research representing dads’ experiences.

Dr Klara Price, Course Leader, said: “Dads are often forgotten in research and policy. We wanted to help fill that gap and ensure their voices are heard.

“We were introduced to Jacob Guy, who runs a ‘For Dads, By Dads’ project for Torfaen Council. They bring new and soon-to-be fathers together for sessions on mental health, sleep, nutrition, social media, and more. The programme also links dads with local health visitors and family services and offers follow-up support through the Circle of Security parenting programme.”

Through the project, students surveyed and interviewed dads who had taken part in a ‘For Dads, By Dads’ 10-week support programme.

One of the most powerful findings was that over a third of dads reported receiving no official support at all during their fatherhood journey. Many described relying solely on partners, friends or family, and some had no one to turn to for advice.

They stressed that they wanted to be good parents but often “didn’t know where to go” for help, with many describing feelings of isolation or stigma around asking for support.

Just over half of dads said they understood children’s rights, but 52% had never heard of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Those familiar with it tended to be more confident in advocating for their children’s wellbeing and rights.

While around half of respondents felt dad-focused support groups would be valuable, many argued that Wales needs systemic change, including:

• fairer paternity leave
• better legal and mediation advice for fathers
• stronger public recognition of dads as equal caregivers
• better involvement of fathers in health and education discussions

Dads repeatedly reported feeling overlooked in settings such as health visits, antenatal appointments and parents’ evenings, where attention was focused almost exclusively on mothers.

The interviews also revealed the transformative effect of the ‘For Dads, By Dads’ programme. Participants described improved confidence, mental wellbeing, parenting skills and a sense of community, with some calling for the initiative to be expanded nationally.

The full report has been shared with Children in Wales, who have produced a policy briefing for Welsh Government, policy makers, and for those who work with families.

Dr Price said: “Working with community partners gives our students experience of making a real difference. Their work is already shaping policy conversations in Wales, and we’re excited to keep building on that impact.”

Anna Westall, Policy Team Manager at Children in Wales, added: “By highlighting the experiences of dads across Wales, the study offers clear steps to ensure they are supported, included and empowered as equal partners in parenting. Listening to fathers’ voices and addressing the barriers they face helps create a parenting environment where every child benefits from confident, involved and supported dads.

“We hope that this research will inform service design so that support for parents is inclusive and accessible for mothers and fathers alike.”