'n Prakties-teologiese ondersoek na die uitwerking van afwesige vaders : 'n verkennende kwalitatiewe ondersoek in die Promosa-gemeenskap

In hierdie artikel word aangetoon dat empiriese navorsing gebruik kan word om literatuurstudies oor die afwesige vader en die gevolge soos sosiale, sosio-ekonomiese en psigologiese probleme te bevestig. Daar is eers 'n literatuurstudie gedoen oor die rol van die vader waar die relevante aspekte in 'n breër konteks ondersoek word. Die bevindings van 'n kwalitatiewe ondersoek deur agt vroue van Promosa (Potchefstroom) as fokusgroep te gebruik, het die voorlopige resultate van die literatuurondersoek bevestig. Die uitkomste mag belangrike implikasies in die veld van praktiese teologie en pastorale begeleiding vir hierdie vroue en kinders van afwesige vaders inhou. Daar word ook riglyne voorgestel vir pogings om vaders meer betrokke te kry. A practical theological investigation into the effect of absent fathers : an exploratory qualitative investigation in the Promosa community In this article it is shown that empirical research can be used to confirm important findings in literature studies about the understanding of absent fathers and the devastating consequences such as social problems, socio-economic problems and psychological problems. A literature study was done on the role of the father and all the relevant aspects are viewed in a broader context. The results obtained through a qualitative investigation of eight women from Promosa (Potchefstroom) as a focus group confirmed the trends found in the preliminary literary research. The outcomes may have important implications in the field of practical theology and pastoral guidance for absent fathers, the women involved with those fathers and fatherless children. Some guidelines are proposed towards an effort to help fathers to become more involved.