Australian nonresident fathers’ tattoos that relate to their children: An exploration of motivation and meaning

Research on nonresident fathers after divorce is generally conducted from the perspective of others and rarely from their own perspectives. Becoming a nonresident father may mean major dislocation often presenting challenges to meaningful relationships with children. Some nonresident fathers may have tattoos that relate specifically to their children, which were acquired either before or after the divorce. Understanding the links between changing family configurations, fatherhood role identity, desired relationships with children, and how these are enacted and embodied through tattoos represents an important step toward understanding the experiences of nonresident fathers from their own perspectives. This article aimed to investigate the motivators and significance of nonresident fathers’ tattoos that specifically relate to their children and how they link to personal and mental well-being. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven nonresident fathers who had tattoos that related specifically to their children, had a mean age of 42 years, had been divorced for a mean of 6 years, and self-identified as Australian. The data were analyzed using a seven-step thematic analysis process. As a result, nonresident fathers’ tattoos that relate to their children could be used by them as a means of maintaining an emotional and psychological connection to their fatherhood role, and in doing this, their mental well-being may be positively affected.