Conference Agenda

In our grounded theory-based qualitative study, we explore how relationship-regulation processes among family members either support or undermine individuals’ emotional and mental well-being, ultimately shaping the succession process in first-generation family businesses.

Drawing on in-depth interviews with incumbents and successors from twelve first-generation family firms, our grounded theory analysis produced a substantive theoretical model rooted in the interview data. We found that intrafamily succession is driven by relational negotiation processes that revolve around three main areas: establishing a shared identity between incumbent and successor, co-constructing their understanding of succession, and defining the family rules that guide the process.

In our proposed model, their common construction is metaphorically depicted as a bridge built “brick by brick,” emerging from ongoing relationship-regulation efforts. Negotiations around shared identity form the foundation of this common construction, while negotiations over family rules provide its structural framework.

Overall, the findings point to a dynamic, relationship-focused perspective on succession in which planning is not the central mechanism; rather, relationship negotiations and family members’ mental and emotional health and well-being play a pivotal role in shaping the succession’s success.

Despite increasing recognition of paternal perinatal mental health (PPMH), with research showing that approximately 1 in 10 fathers experience mental health issues during this period, fathers' experiences remain overlooked in research and practice. This study explores how fathers in Austria navigate PPMH challenges and available support. Fourteen qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a better understanding of fathers' experiences, with thematic analysis used to analyze the data. Participants described several barriers to seeking (professional) help, including stigma, societal expectations of fatherhood, traditional gender norms, and a lack of father-inclusive services. Many fathers hesitated to seek support due to societal pressures and the belief they should be strong and priortize supporting their partner over their own wellbeing. While fathers relied on informal support networks, such as family, friends, and peers, for (emotional and) practical support, the availability and effectiveness of these networks varied. Fathers' approaches to PPMH were shaped by their mental health experiences, how they interpreted these, and societal pressure to neglect their own needs, affecting how they expressed emotions. These interviews highlight the need to rethink PPMH support, with a focus on greater visibility of fathers and co-parents in perinatal care and developing interventions tailored to their unique needs.

There is a lack of qualitative research in a clinical setting that investigates the experiences of couples facing financial stress, and how this shapes their quality of life and couple dynamics. During a previous study with this population, we noticed that the participants reflected on existential questions such as freedom and determinism in a way that warranted closer analytic attention. Using existential philosophy to understand such material holds promise, as it allows the researcher to use interpretations from outside the clinical and sociological literature most often used to make sense of these phenomena. Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophy was chosen for this specific topic, as she wrote about the ambiguities of being both a determined and self-constituting subject in The Ethics of Ambiguity (1947). In this study, we use de Beauvoir’s thinking to re-analyse qualitative interviews with six couples, previously analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The couples are highly distressed, report financial stress and are interviewed during residential couple therapy. Their accounts illustrate how narratives of loneliness and inter-connectedness, freedom and determinism co-exist and illuminate each other in surprising ways. Implications for couple therapy are considered. The methodology is discussed in relation to IPA and Critical post-intentional phenomenological inquiry (CRIT-PIP).