To Örebro University

This study is based on a Swedish project for young boys, with absent father with the aim of preventing future destructive behaviour. Our goal was to investigate if the project had reached its aim and if the mothers could se if any changes could be made to improve the project in the future. The study has been done by qualitative interviews with four mothers who had their sons participating in the project. Research shows the importance for children to have male role models and that they often work as protective factors in a child’s life. But if the level of conflict is too high in the family it is not in the best interest of the child to grow up with both parents. Research also tells us that the well-being of the mother and her parenting changes a lot when going through a separation. Other conditions such as household income and quality time spent with the child changes for the worse. The results have been analyzed against earlier research and Object Relations theory, which tells us of the importance for a child is able to identify with both the mother and the father. Our result shows that the project from Sweden did reach its aim according the mothers reports. The boys that participated got a better self- confidence, an increase in the trusting of men and a slightly better relationship with their fathers. It also gave the mother time to spend on them selves. The mothers couldn’t se any changes in particular that could be made to improve the project in the future.