Understanding Fatherhood Stress in Informal Settlements: A Conceptual Framework

Background and Purpose: Globally, one billion people live in informal settlements, a number projected to double by 2050. Fathers residing in informal settlements face unique and intersecting stressors that impact their well-being, family dynamics, and social roles. However, existing research on fatherhood in low-resource urban settings is limited, particularly explorations of how structural inequalities, gendered expectations, and psychosocial challenges shape father’s experiences. This conceptual paper introduces a framework for understanding the stressors fathers face in informal settlements and their implications for social work research, policy, and practice.

Methods: Pulling from literature across disciplines, I adapt Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory to illustrate how fatherhood stressors in informal settlements operate across individual, relational, community, and structural levels. I introduce the Fatherhood Stress Framework in Informal Settlements (FSF-IS) to categorize and examine these challenges, offering a foundation for future collaborative interventions that bridge social work, public health, and policy efforts.

Results: The FSF-IS model categorizes stressors into four levels. Individual-Level Stressors which include – emotional dysregulation, history of distress, financial insecurity, and adherence to toxic masculinity norms that reinforce unattainable provider role expectations; Interpersonal-Level Stressors including – strained partner relationships, limited paternal involvement, and family conflicts shaped by financial instability; Community-Level Stressors such as – enforcement of patriarchal norms that tie masculinity to financial success, limited social support networks and economic opportunities, and exposure to violence; Structural-Level Stressors, including – systemic economic marginalization, limited income-generating opportunities, housing instability, lack of protections for residents, and inadequate access to health-related services.

Conclusion and Implications: This conceptual paper provides a comprehensive framework for social work research and practice. The multi-level stressors faced by fathers in informal settlements highlight the need for collaborative multi-level interventions that integrate social work, public health, and policy approaches. Addressing these stressors through collaborative research can enhance family resilience, reduce health disparities, and inform sustainable urban development policies. Findings also reinforce the need for transdisciplinary partnerships that prioritize fatherhood as a critical dimension of social and public health policy for strengthening policy reforms that recognize and support fathers in informal economies. Community-driven mental health initiatives can reduce stigma and promote coping strategies tailored to the lived realities of fathers in informal settlements. Additionally, social work programs that are father-inclusive and engage men in parenting and economic empowerment can help shift traditional norms and improve family outcomes.