In recent years the role of fathers has begun to shift significantly. Once bread-winner and disciplinarian, there is now a growing trend towards the involved and Invested father. In Divorced Fathers, Edward Krak examines how this changing role has affected fathers' experiences of divorce. When parents divorce it is common for mothers to receive full or primary custody of the children, leaving fathers with visitation rights of no contact at all. Based on a mixed methods study of 82 divorced fathers from British Columbia, Kruk suggests that these involved fathers suffer posttraumatic stress disorder when they lose their children. This book offers first person accounts of the emotional anguish that these fathers suffer. Divorced Fathers also, explores the fathers' perspectives on what they believe is best for their children in the divorce transition. Noting that parents', particularly fathers', voices are too often missing from discussions about the "best interests of the child," Kruk asks these fathers about their children's needs and their own parental responsibility in meeting those needs.
Ultimately, Kruk argues, children benefit most from the love and care of both parents and we must ensure that fathers are supported in their efforts to play a meaningful role in their children's lives after divorce. Book jacket.