Date of Conferral

10-13-2026

Date of Award

October 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Katherine Green

Abstract

Fathers’ parental leave experiences are shaped by organizational policies, workplace culture, leadership behaviors, and the developmental transition into fatherhood. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of fathers in the United States as they navigated parental leave within the workplace and made meaning of organizational leadership and workplace culture. The study was guided by Super’s life-span, life-space theory, Erikson’s psychosocial theory, and Kanter’s theory of structural empowerment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight fathers who had experienced parental leave within the previous five years. Data were analyzed using transcendental phenomenological procedures, including bracketing, horizontalization, and thematic development. Six themes revealed that fatherhood influenced participants’ identities, priorities, and responsibilities; time away from work facilitated family connection; and organizational context shaped leave experiences. Leadership behaviors, workplace expectations, financial circumstances, and personal beliefs also influenced how fathers experienced and utilized leave and how they reflected on those experiences. The findings suggest that organizations should consider both the availability of parental leave benefits and the environments in which those benefits are supported. Positive social change may result from organizational practices that strengthen family well-being and support fathers during the transition to parenthood.

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