Excitement and/or Frustration: Chinese Father's Experiences in Taiwan.

This study explored personal feelings of Chinese fathers in Taiwan regarding the child-rearing process. Interviews with fathers of preschoolers indicated that fathers' experiences can be categorized into eight core feelings: (1) self-value (feelings of being needed and capable of being a father); (2) fulfillment (feelings that life is satisfactory and rewarding after having children); (3) intimacy (feelings of being close to their children); (4) continuity (feelings that their lives are continued by having children who resemble them); (5) worry (feelings of being bothered by the development of their children); (6) being trapped (feelings of no way out of the great responsibility); (7) tiredness (feelings of being exhausted physically and mentally); and (8) frustration (feelings of being unable to deal with children's problems). The study concluded that fathers in Taiwan no longer confine themselves to limited, traditional chores of child rearing. (Contains 19 references and 2 tables.) (EV)