Exploring the father-son relationship in college men

Abstract

On campuses and institutions across the country college men have emerged as a new at-risk group due to concerns of academic, social, emotional, health related, conduct related, and attitudinal natures. This study utilized phenomenological interviewing to explore and better understand the socialization of college men through the father-son relationship. Five undergraduate men at a midsized public university in the Midwest participated in this study. Four major themes and results suggest that fathers are one of the most influential and socially significant figures in the life of men and that college impacted the participants to adopt contemporary views of masculinity and fatherhood.