Work

‘It’s not fair!’ Fathers’ perceptions of injustice in the context of pediatric chronic pain: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Recent research highlights the role of parental appraisals in pediatric pain, yet studies on injustice appraisals remain limited and largely focused on mothers. This qualitative study explores fathers' appraisals of injustice in the context of their child's chronic pain, examining both child- and self-oriented appraisals. Semi-structured interviews with six fathers were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, revealing two key themes: (1) Grieving the child's condition and (2) Struggling with the paternal role. Fathers described how their child's pain disrupted expectations of fatherhood and family life, while also grappling with how to fulfill their paternal role and maintain their identity. These findings underscore the relevance of injustice appraisals in paternal experiences and offer valuable insights into a perspective rarely addressed in pediatric pain research.

Source: Journal of Health Psychology

DOI: 10.1177/13591053261487176