The "Standing Alone" Process of Divorced Single Fathers

한부모 이혼 남성의 홀로서기과정

The purpose of this study is to understand the process of "standing alone" in divorced single fathers on the basis of qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with 10 divorced single fathers. Data were analyzed on the basis of grounded theory analysis in open coding, and 154 concepts, 39 sub-categories, and 14 categories were derived. According to the results of this study, the process phenomenon of divorced single fathers' standing alone was "the restraint and chaos of pain". This study could identify the consecutive process of four identified stages: marriage life's rupture, pain and chaos, deliberation and decision, and role adaption. In selective coding, the core category was "to pass through the restraint of pain and embrace children and stand alone". There were three types of standing alone: maintaining barely, enduring hopefully, and living initiatively. This study showed the necessity of social support and the basic data by type analysis through the process of standing alone. This study provided substantive knowledge generated through the voices of the persons concerned.