Australian Nonresident Fathers' Tattoos That Relate to Their Children: An Exploration of Motivation and Meaning.

Research on nonresident fathers after divorce is generally conducted from the perspective of others and rarely from their own perspectives. Becoming a nonresident father may mean major dislocation often presenting challenges to meaningful relationships with children. Some nonresident fathers may have tattoos that relate specifically to their children, which were acquired either before or after the divorce. Understanding the links between changing family configurations, fatherhood role identity, desired relationships with children, and how these are enacted and embodied through tattoos represents an important step toward understanding the experiences of nonresident fathers from their own perspectives. This article aimed to investigate the motivators and significance of nonresident fathers' tattoos that specifically relate to their children and how they link to personal and mental well-being. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven nonresident fathers who had tattoos that related specifically to their children, had a mean age of 42 years, had been divorced for a mean of 6 years, and self-identified as Australian. The data were analyzed using a seven-step thematic analysis process. As a result, nonresident fathers' tattoos that relate to their children could be used by them as a means of maintaining an emotional and psychological connection to their fatherhood role, and in doing this, their mental well-being may be positively affected. Public Significance Statement: This research has identified how fatherhood role salience continues after divorce, being highlighted by the choice to make their fatherhood identity permanently visible through tattoos and how these in turn may have beneficial effects on the individual's mental well-being. Deepening our understanding of the value nonresident fathers' place on their attachment to their children, their fatherhood identity, and how tattoos may have beneficial psychological effects on themselves for some individuals is important. Having tattoos may also be seen as an important entry point for counseling, psychological, or therapeutic interventions. This could be linked with the development of positive approaches to existing tattoos by therapists and, in this way, be one part of a wider solution to helping nonresident fathers realize their desired relationships with their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]