Fathers and CHARGE Syndrome: Impact on the Life Tasks

Abstract:This study examined how fathers of children with CHARGE syndrome experience aspects of the five life tasks: work, friendship, love, self-acceptance, and finding meaning. Ninety-three fathers of children with CHARGE and 35 fathers of typically developing children completed an online survey. Overall, fathers of children with CHARGE were resilient, and they evaluated their work, friendships, and general contentment similar to evaluations by fathers of typically developing children. However, they did report a drop in the quantity and quality of their friendships following the birth of their child. While they performed caretaking duties as often as fathers of children with other disabilities, they did not view their contributions as being as useful. Fathers of children with CHARGE were quite happy and satisfied with life.