An updated and expanded meta-analysis of nonresident fathering and child well-being

Direct and Indirect Longitudinal Associations of Mother and Father Engagement in Middle Childhood on Adolescent Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors

Parent engagement is an important aspect of parenting during childhood. However, little is known about the unique longitudinal associations of mother and father engagement with adolescents' externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. This study uses Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study data to examine the potential direct and indirect associations of parent engagement at age 9 on adolescent externalizing and internalizing behaviors at age 15. The analytic sample size is 1349, and at age 9, the mean age of children was 9.40 years (SD = 0.37). Forty-eight percent of children were female and 68% of them were from the married families. The results show that while controlling for mother engagement, higher father engagement at age 9 was directly associated with fewer adolescent internalizing behaviors, only among adolescent boys and in married families. In addition, among adolescent boys, father engagement had an indirect association with externalizing behaviors through father-child closeness. Mother engagement, however, is only found to have an indirect association with adolescents' externalizing and internalizing behaviors through maternal hostility (while controlling for father engagement). The results for mother engagement held for boys and in married families only. The findings indicate that both mother and father engagement during childhood is important and helpful to prevent adolescent problem behaviors directly or indirectly via parent-child relationship.

Paternal Activation as a Protective Factor against Problem Behaviors in Early Childhood

Activation parenting includes behaviors that challenge children to approach novel situations, explore their environments, and take physical and socioemotional risks through a balance of encouragement and limit-setting. Although components of activation parenting have been linked to lower levels of children's problem behaviors, comprehensive measures of activation parenting and longitudinal research on families from low socioeconomic backgrounds are lacking. The goal of the present study was to test associations between paternal activation parenting at age 3 and children's externalizing and internalizing problems at age 5 in a sample of low-income, ethnically diverse fathers. Participating fathers (N = 171; 9% Black, 47% white, 8% Latinx; mean household income = $25,145) and their children (51% female) were drawn from the Early Steps Multisite Study. Activation parenting during a teaching task at child age 3 was associated with lower levels of internalizing problems at age 5 and decreases in externalizing problems from baseline (age 2). Implications of the current findings are presented for future research on associations between activation parenting and child problem behaviors, including the potential for the development of prevention and intervention programs.

Adolescents' belonging in post-divorce families: Examining residential and digital contact with mothers and fathers

Using data of 166 adolescents from divorced families, this study examined longitudinal associations between the quantity and quality of adolescents' residential contact and digital contact with parents, and their sense of family belonging. Cross-lagged panel models showed concurrent associations among adolescents' residential and digital contact with each parent, yet positively for fathers and negatively for mothers. Some cross-lagged paths revealed that higher-quality interactions may contribute to positive changes in contact. Although there were effects of parent-adolescent contact on family belongingness, over time belongingness was mostly predicted by the general quality of contact. The results suggest that post-divorce relationships require frequent and meaningful time together, the effects of which, however, do hardly transfer over time in terms of adolescents' belongingness.

Level of Knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Among the Teenage Mothers and Their Parents in Rwanda: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Parents are the primary caregivers and influential figures in adolescents' lives. They play a crucial role in shaping their children's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding sexual reproductive health. A vast difference in knowledge between adolescents and their parents indicates failure in knowledge translation and is associated with sexual and reproductive consequences, such as teenage pregnancies.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study between December 2020 and December 2021, 834 teenage mothers and their parents/guardians (n = 861) were enrolled from all five provinces of Rwanda. Knowledge of sexual reproductive health (SRH) rights was assessed, and the differences between the understanding of parents and their children were analyzed using Chi-square tests.

Results

There were statistically significant differences for all the assessed aspects of SRH knowledge rights between parents and their teenagers (ie, on the age of consent, safe abortion, right to education for teenage mothers, understanding of financial responsibilities, and perceptions of legal consequences).

Conclusion

There is a significant knowledge difference between the two generations regarding their understanding of SRH rights. It is recommended that future programming should devise innovative ways that bring together parents and their children to discuss sexual reproductive health rights, which will result in empowered children and teenagers in Rwanda. Also, awareness programs are needed to improve the knowledge gaps regarding SRH in the public by policymakers, NGOs, and educators.

Are Discrepancies Between Father and Adolescent Perceptions of Harsh Parenting and Conflict Associated with Adolescent Mental Health Symptoms?

Though differences in informant perceptions of family processes are associated with poorer health, few studies have examined discrepancies between father- and adolescent-report of family phenomena and their impact on adolescent mental health. This study examined how father and adolescent-reported parenting and the differences in their perceptions is related to adolescent mental health. Participants were 326 father-adolescent dyads (Fathers: Mage = 41.2; Adolescents: 7th grade students, Mage = 12.0, 48.5% female). Overall, analyses revealed significant main effects of father and/or adolescent report of father-adolescent conflict and harsh parenting on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Analyses revealed two instances in which discrepancies between father- and adolescent-report of family phenomena was related to adolescent mental health. Given the mixed nature of the findings based on the outcome reporter, the current study discusses implications for discrepancy research and future directions to better understand discrepant perceptions as useful information on their own. The parent clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03125291, Registration date: 4/13/2017).

Shared parenting and father involvement after divorce in Denmark

The Scandinavian countries make interesting samples for the study of shared parenting as they are characterized by some of the highest levels of father involvement and gender equality globally. Despite numerous studies, data from Denmark is noticeably absent in the international debate, partly due to a researcher preference for publishing in Danish. Here, I present an overview of the increase in father involvement in Denmark since the 1960s and on the increase in shared parenting across recent decades. I further examine Danish law, ministerial guidelines and guidelines from major Danish public and private institutions/organizations involved in deciding or advising on parenting practices post-divorce. I relate these to international research findings as well as to findings from Danish research. Overall, I find that Danish guidelines/practice have several reservations against shared parenting and substantial father involvement, which are not considered warranted by a substantial number of scientists and which are not supported by the majority of the available evidence. It thus appears that societal transition toward increased shared parenting has happened on a largely voluntary basis in spite of official law/practice. Updated law and/or ministerial guidelines are likely necessary if politicians desire that children experience the same high degree of father involvement post-divorce that they experience in society in general.

Paternal identity, maternal gate opening, and fathers' longitudinal positive engagement

Fathers' positive engagement (FPE) benefits children's development but some children receive greater FPE than others. Understanding why some fathers demonstrate greater FPE than others is critical to efforts to support FPE. However, studies of FPE often fail to account for the father's residential context and changes in interparental relationships and FPE that occur as the child develops. This study examined the effects of paternal identity (i.e., status-level/role-level centrality) and maternal gate opening on FPE in diverse residential contexts from early to middle childhood. Using longitudinal multilevel modeling, this study analyzed data from 2,339 families in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Results demonstrated that maternal gate opening strengthened the association between paternal status-level centrality and FPE, especially, for fathers who were nonresident at childbirth. This protective effect did not change by child age. Furthermore, fathers who were resident at childbirth but nonresident in middle childhood increased in FPE over time. However, among fathers whose residential status shifted from nonresident to resident, those with low role-level centrality decreased in FPE over time. For fathers who were resident from birth to middle childhood, high maternal gate opening was associated with greater FPE, although this effect faded over time. Overall, these findings suggest the importance of both establishment of a strong paternal identity and maintenance of maternal support to promote long-term FPE. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Intergenerational Pathways Linking Mothers' Adverse Childhood Experiences and Children's Social-Emotional Problems

Despite the persistent hypothesis that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have intergenerational implications, empirical research documenting the effects and the mechanisms of transmission remains underdeveloped. This study examined the intergenerational effects of mothers' adverse childhood experiences on their offspring's social-emotional development and whether the association was mediated by mothers' mental health, adult adversity, and perceptions of paternal involvement. The study sample included 831 mothers (19-49 years old, 47.5% White) with children aged 12-48 months who participated in a longitudinal investigation of low-income families in Wisconsin. ACEs were assessed by home visitors, and two waves of survey data were collected by researchers to assess demographics, mediators, and social-emotional outcomes. A path analysis showed that the association between maternal ACEs and children's social-emotional problems was fully mediated, with postpartum mental health acting as a primary mechanism. Implications for intervention and future research directions are discussed.

The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment

The present study adopted an ecological perspective, and examined effects of sense of belonging to multiple contexts in relation to adolescent adjustment, as well as possible differences between adolescents from intact and divorced families. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate perceptions of family, school, peer, and neighborhood belonging among 969 adolescents. Results showed that mean level differences in belonging exist based on family structure, and that levels of family and neighborhood belonging vary between post-divorce maternal and paternal households. For all adolescents, sense of belonging predicted self-reported well-being, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Belonging was found to partly explain the relation between divorce and adjustment. Improving adolescents' belonging could therefore be an important step in ensuring a better adjustment post-divorce.

Disentangling the Long-term Effects of Divorce Circumstances on Father-Child Closeness in Adulthood: A Mediation Analysis

Many studies have shown that the relationship between nonresidential fathers and their children in youth has a lasting influence on their relationship in adulthood. Comparatively less is known about the process through which divorce affects father-child relationships. We assess if and how the divorce circumstances of interparental conflict, the presence of new partners, and geographical distance between parents affect nonresidential father-child closeness in adulthood. Using a path model, we test whether father-adult child closeness is mediated by fathers' involvement after divorce. The results of this study demonstrate that the level of interparental conflict and the presence of a fathers' new partner after the divorce negatively affect the closeness between fathers and children in adulthood. Our mediation analysis demonstrates that both the effects of interparental conflict and new partnerships on closeness are partially mediated by father involvement and contact frequency during childhood. In other words, it is partly through the negative effect that interparental conflict and new partners have on fathers' involvement that fathers and children become less close later in life. Our study highlights the importance of disentangling the effects of different factors associated with divorce when examining nonresidential father-child relationships.

Lay Health Workers Engaging Latino Fathers: A qualitative study

Behavioral Parent Training programs (BPTs) are evidence-based interventions that have been shown to be effective when implemented in various contexts and with different racial/ethnic minority families. Despite evidence showing their effectiveness within the Latinx community, disparities in access to BPTs still persist. In addition, fathers continue to show low rates of attendance and engagement despite evidence suggesting positive outcomes for the youth and family when fathers are involved in BPT treatment. Lay health workers (LHWs), community members without specialized metal health training that often live in the communities they serve, have been identified as engagement specialists that are uniquely positioned to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in access to services. The current study utilized a qualitative approach to examine this workforce's perspectives on engaging Latino fathers in parenting services in children's mental health. Qualitative themes revealed that LHWs have generally positive attitudes towards engaging Latino fathers in parenting interventions (i.e., benefits to parent-child relationship) despite experiencing barriers to engagement (e.g., culturally defined gender roles, fathers being less likely to ask for help). Themes also elucidate various engagement strategies that LHWs use to engage fathers in treatment (e.g., adapting treatment setting). Considerations for future LHW trainings and workforce development are discussed with a focus on how to incorporate cultural values in the use of father-engagement strategies.

Emotional constraint, father-son relationships, and men's wellbeing

Male rates of suicide exceed female rates and research findings indicate an association between particular practices of masculinity, specifically emotional constraint, and male suicide. This paper examines gender and family influences on men's wellbeing, based on in-depth interviews with a sample of fifty-two men, aged 18-30 years, who made a clinically serious or near-fatal suicide attempt and were recruited following presentation to hospital. Themes derived from the analysis included learning about masculinity which relates to the gender culture within the home, the regulation and enforcement of behavior by peers and father-son relationships. Results demonstrated that the men were generally from families where hegemonic ideals of masculinity, emphasizing strength and emotional stoicism, were practiced. This gender environment, which was reinforced in the neighborhood, restricted behavior and the expression of feeling, shaped communication between fathers and sons and affected the father's ability to emotionally engage with his son. Fathers were significant figures in these men's lives and were role models for demonstrating masculinity practices but there was an absence of positive, nurturing, relationships between fathers and sons and this influenced the son's gender learning and his wellbeing. Fathers who were emotionally distant, and particularly those who were abusive, gave rise to feelings of rejection, sadness and anger in their sons but problematic father-son relationships were not addressed nor ill-treatment in childhood disclosed due to gender-related constraints on expression. Restrictions on expression and prohibitions on revealing weakness denied the men a space to explore as well as manage the issues of their lives and prevented them from revealing distress. They coped by sublimating problems and disguising vulnerability and by seeking emotional comfort within intimate partnerships but these men were susceptible to situations which threatened their psychological security. Overall, the study demonstrated challenges for males raised in settings of hegemonic masculinity and the importance of nurturing father-son relationships for male wellbeing. The results imply the need for a focus on the benefits of positive fathering and the inclusion of more nuanced messaging relating to men's emotions in Public Health messaging.

Employment and child support outcomes among noncustodial fathers: An evaluation of the Fathers Advancing Community Together program

Prior research underscores the importance of fathers' involvement in their children's lives. However, there is mixed evidence about the degree to which fatherhood programs improve economic stability and child support outcomes among noncustodial fathers. We attempted to address some of these gaps in the literature by evaluating the Fathers Advancing Community Together (FACT) program. FACT was implemented by Rubicon Programs, a community-based nonprofit organization in the Bay Area, California known for providing services to help move people out of poverty. The program provided parents economic stability, responsible parenting, and healthy relationship workshops, as well as support services and intensive case management. We relied on data from the Department of Child Support Services to assess whether FACT increased the likelihood of employment, child support modifications, and child support payments among noncustodial fathers during a 6-month post-enrollment period. Using 3:1 coarsened exact matching procedures, the total sample resulted in 744 fathers (186 in the intervention group and 558 in the comparison group). Results from logistic regression models indicate that FACT participants were more likely to be employed and more likely to receive a child support modification during the post-enrollment period than their comparison counterparts, though we found no significant relationship between FACT participation and whether fathers made a child support payment.

Maternal and Paternal Predictors of Turkish Fathers’ Nurturing and Caregiving

This study uses bioecological and identity theories to explore associations among maternal education and employment, fathers’ gender role beliefs and identities, and fathers’ caregiving and nurturing involvement in a Turkish context. The study sample was derived from data collected in 2016 from 1,102 fathers of children between birth and 3 years of age. We used path analysis in structural equation modeling to test direct and indirect associations. Direct paths between maternal education and employment and fathers’ caregiving and nurturing behaviors were not significant; however, some fathers’ gender role beliefs mediated the associations. Modernity beliefs mediated the association between education and caregiving, and fathers’ emotional closeness mediated the association between maternal education and fathers’ nurturing behaviors. Furthermore, maternal employment was indirectly associated with fathers’ caregiving via his beliefs about the equality of sons and daughters and division of labor at home. Father identity development was not associated with maternal education or employment, and only mediated associations between fathers’ beliefs about emotional closeness and their caregiving and nurturing involvement. The current findings suggest that cultural norms and beliefs likely play themselves out via parenting styles and family structures (the microsystems for children), and therefore these family variables may contain very valuable cultural information in understanding the processes of father identity construction, masculinity beliefs, and father involvement behaviors.

COVID-19 and the relationships and involvement of nonresident fathers

OBJECTIVE

To support nonresident fathers in maintaining involvement and relationships with their children during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must understand how such fathers have been impacted thus far by the pandemic.

BACKGROUND

All families have been impacted by the pandemic, but fathers who do not reside with their children are particularly likely to be negatively impacted. Social distancing, restrictions on travel, job loss/economic downturn, family court closures, and numerous other effects of the COVID-19 crisis impact the ability of nonresident fathers to maintain relationships and involvement with their children.

METHOD

The current study analyzed retrospective data from 373 nonresident U.S. fathers to assess perceived parenting and coparenting changes during the pandemic, as well as whether coparenting relationships and mental health were associated with their involvement and relationships with their children.

RESULTS

On average, fathers' involvement, father-child relationship quality, and coparenting support declined, but wide variability also existed, with a substantial minority of fathers reporting increased involvement. Coparenting support was positively associated with current levels of involvement and relationship quality as well as changes to both since the pandemic, but mental health was inconsistently associated with outcomes.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

To keep these average declines from becoming permanent, future research should investigate what factors foster higher involvement and improved relationships. Practitioners should offer additional support to nonresident fathers to promote their involvement and relationships in ways compatible with evolving restrictions.

Validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Involucramiento Parental: Actividades de cuidado y socialización en padres peruanos

El presente estudio busca obtener evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Involucramiento Parental: Actividades de cuidado y socialización en una muestra de padres peruanos de niños y niñas preescolares. Para ello, se realizó una traducción y armonización del lenguaje del instrumento a partir de su versión en inglés al español, para luego aplicar la nueva versión a un grupo de 420 padres y 420 madres de niños y niñas de cinco ciudades. La evidencia de la estructura interna se evaluó a través de un análisis factorial confirmatorio multigrupo, utilizando el método de máxima verosimilitud para examinar la estructura de los 26 ítems originales. Durante el análisis, se procedió a la eliminación progresiva de los ítems con bajas cargas factoriales hasta encontrar un modelo con adecuados indicadores de ajuste [χ2 (531) = 822.82; p < .001; χ2 /gl = 1.550; gfi = .90; cfi = .95; tli = .94; rmsea = .036, ic 90 % = (.031-.041), p close = 1.000, srmr = .05]. El resultado fue una escala de 18 ítems distribuidos en las cinco dimensiones originales, cada una con confiabilidad por consistencia interna alfa de Cronbach entre .66 y .78 y coeficientes omega entre .70 y .75. La confiabilidad entre evaluadores estuvo entre .67 y .88. Los alcances y limitaciones del estudio son discutidos teniendo en cuenta la importancia de contar con instrumentos de medición del involucramiento paterno, relativo al materno, que consideren las perspectivas de padres y madres en el contexto peruano.

Gender role attitudes and father practices as predictors of nonresident father-child contact

Due to an increasing number of parental union dissolutions, a growing number of fathers does not cohabit with their biological children. This article analyses individual and societal gender role attitudes as well as societal father practices as determinants of nonresident father-child contact. Previous research shows that individual-level factors influence the relationship between nonresident fathers and their children. Research on resident fathers indicates that individual attitudes and societal contexts affect father-child involvement. Little is known on the relationship between individual gender role attitudes as well as societal gender role attitudes and father practices and nonresident fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives. To shed more light thereon, we examine data from eleven Eastern and Western European countries from the first wave of the Gender and Generations Survey. We analyze two samples: One consisting of nonresident fathers of children aged 0 to 13 and one of fathers of adolescents aged 14 to 17. Logistic regression models assess if individual and societal gender role attitudes as well as societal father practices predict the probability of monthly father-child contact. Contact between nonresident fathers is affected by different factors depending on whether the focus is on children or adolescents. Societal gender role attitudes and societal father practices predict the probability of monthly contact between fathers and their children; individual gender role attitudes are less important. Individual gender role attitudes, on the other hand, predict the probability of monthly contact between nonresident fathers and their adolescent children; societal factors matter less for this age group.

Resident and Non-resident Father Involvement, Coparenting, and the Development of Children's Self-Regulation Among Families Facing Economic Hardship

Self-regulation, or the ability to effectively manage emotions and behavior, is a critical skill to develop in early childhood. Children living in a context of economic hardship are at an increased risk for developing self-regulation difficulties. However, few studies have comprehensively examined how multiple aspects of the caregiving environment, including fathers' parenting and coparenting quality, may contribute to child self-regulation. Thus, this study applied a family systems perspective to examine whether coparenting and resident and non-resident fathers' reports of parenting quantity and quality were associated with observations of children's self-regulation. Participants were drawn from the Embedded Developmental Study (n = 257) of the Three-City Study, a longitudinal study of children and families facing economic hardship. At Wave 1, when children were 2-4 years old, reports of parenting (i.e., quantity and quality) and coparenting (i.e., support) were obtained. At Wave 2, when children were 3-6 years old, children participated in a snack delay and gift wrap task, which assessed their self-regulation. Multi-group path analyses indicated that resident fathers' harsh parenting at Wave 1 predicted decreased levels of self-regulation at Wave 2. Non-resident fathers' reported hours of involvement at Wave 1 predicted greater levels of self-regulation at Wave 2. Additionally, supportive coparenting among families with a non-resident father predicted greater self-regulation. Supportive coparenting was not associated with child self-regulation in families with a resident father. The implications for research focused on facilitating positive father-child relationships in diverse family contexts are discussed.

Azhe'é Bidziil (Strong Fathers): Study Protocol for the Pilot Evaluation of an American Indian Fatherhood Program to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Diné (Navajo) Fathers

INTRODUCTION

Considering the critical role that American Indian and Alaska Native (Native) men play in family and child health, there is an urgent need to collaborate with Native communities in developing interventions and policies to improve Native men's health status. This study aims to address a significant gap in research by designing and implementing a culturally grounded health promotion program to increase economic stability, promote positive parenting, and build healthy relationships among Native fathers. The Azhe'é Bidziil ("Strong Fathers") study protocol, developed in response to community advisory board feedback, illustrates a community-engaged approach to developing and implementing a fatherhood program in two Diné (Navajo) communities.

METHODS/ANALYSIS

Azhe'é Bidziil was adapted from three evidence-based interventions developed in collaboration with Native communities. Intervention lessons were iteratively reviewed by a tribal working group to ensure that the content is culturally appropriate and relevant. A pre-post study will assess feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with the Azhe'é Bidziil intervention, as well as short-term impacts on positive parenting, economic stability, and healthy relationship outcomes. The intervention is composed of 12 weekly group sessions conducted with fathers (n = 750) that focus on developing knowledge and skills for positive father involvement, economic stability, and healthy relationships. Lesson content includes: honoring our roles as fathers, building healthy relationships, understanding the impact of historical trauma, goal-setting, and budgeting basics. Each of the 12 group lessons, consisting of 8-12 participants per group, last approximately 2 h. Eligible fathers or father figures are age ≥18 years, live within 50 miles of the participating Diné communities, and must be caregivers of at least one child ≤ 24 years. The outcomes for this study are acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction with the intervention, as well as father involvement, quality of (co-) parenting communication, healthy relationships, fathers' engagement and communication with their children, protective factors (e.g., cultural connectedness and educational/career aspirations), and economic empowerment and stability. Participants will complete an outcome assessment at pre- and post-intervention (12 weeks later).

DISCUSSION

This study protocol presents one of the few evaluations of a fatherhood intervention to increase economic stability, promote positive parenting, and build healthy relationships among Native fathers in rural tribal communities. Such a study is sorely needed to address the health disparities perpetuated by social and Indigenous determinants of health that Native men experience today. If proven efficacious, this pre- post-study will inform a large scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate intervention impact, and if proven efficacious may be disseminated widely in tribal nations. Study findings may also deepen our understanding of peer mentoring, Native men's health status, involvement with their children, co-parenting relationships, family relationships, cultural connectedness, and economic status. The data collected may also inform strategies to ensure acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction of an intervention designed specifically for Native fathers.

The Divorce Process and Child Adaptation Trajectory Typology (DPCATT) Model: The Shaping Role of Predivorce and Postdivorce Interparental Conflict

Divorce has been conceptualized as a process. Research has extensively demonstrated that it is pre/postdivorce family environment factors that primarily account for the variability in children’s adaptation over parental divorce process rather than the legal divorce per se. Amongst various factors, interparental conflict has been consistently identified as a prominent one. Surprisingly, a single source is still lacking that comprehensively synthesizes the extant findings. This review fills this gap by integrating the numerous findings across studies into a more coherent Divorce Process and Child Adaptation Trajectory Typology (DPCATT) Model to illustrate that pre/postdivorce interparental conflict plays crucial roles in shaping child adaptation trajectories across parental divorce process. This review also summarizes the mechanisms (e.g., child cognitive and emotional processes, coparenting, parent–child relations) via which pre/postdivorce interparental conflict determines these trajectories and the factors (e.g., child gender and age, child coping, grandparental support) that interact with pre/postdivorce interparental conflict to further complicate these trajectories. In addition, echoing the call of moving beyond the monolithic conceptualization of pre/postdivorce interparental conflict, we also review studies on the differential implications of different aspects (e.g., frequency versus intensity) and types (e.g., overt versus covert) of interparental conflict for child adjustment. Last, limitations of prior studies and avenues for future research are discussed. The proposed framework may serve as a common knowledge base for researchers to compare/interpret results, detect cutting edges of the fields, and design new studies. The specificity, complexity, nuance, and diversity inherent within our proposed model await to be more fully revealed.

Relations between Early Childhood Paternal Depression and Preschool- and School-age Psychosocial Functioning

Objective: The present study used a longitudinal design to examine associations between paternal depressive symptoms in toddlerhood and children's psychosocial adjustment during the preschool and school-age periods. Maternal depressive symptoms and intervention status were tested as moderators of associations between paternal depressive symptoms and child maladjustment.Method: The sample (n = 264, 48% female, 62% White, 14% Black, 14% bi-racial, 11% another racial group, and 86% non-Hispanic/Latinx) represented a subsample of families from the Early Steps Multisite Study, a clinical randomized trial testing the effectiveness of the Family Check-Up among low-income families using Women, Infants, and Children Nutritional Supplement Services in three communities varied in urbanicity. Fathers and mothers reported their levels of depressive symptoms at child age 2, primary caregivers (mostly mothers) contributed measures of child adjustment at ages 5, 8.5, and 9.5, and teachers completed questionnaires about child adjustment at ages 8.5 and 9.5.Results: Direct relations were found between paternal depressive symptoms and primary caregivers' reports of children's preschool and school-age internalizing problems. Furthermore, higher levels of paternal depression were associated with higher levels of children's later adjustment problems at preschool-age when maternal depressive symptoms were mild or higher. The Family Check-Up attenuated relations between paternal depressive symptoms and children's internalizing problems at school-age.Conclusions: These findings have important implications for future research on preventing children's early-emerging problem behaviors at home, suggesting that addressing paternal depressive symptoms in early childhood may be an important intervention target, especially in the context of maternal depression.

Implicación del padre no custodio y autoestima infantil tras el divorcio parental en España

Este trabajo pretende (1) estudiar la implicación del padre no residente tras el divorcio y, (2) analizar si esta se relaciona con la autoestima infantil. Se entrevistaron a 83 madres divorciadas y 96 niños y niñas de Sevilla (España). Estos tenían entre 6 y 14 años (M = 9.21; SD = 1.94). Se accedió a las familias a través de las escuelas. Los resultados mostraron heterogeneidad en la implicación del padre no residente: la frecuencia de contactos variaba entre los que no tenían relación con él y los que lo veían semanal o diariamente; el 88% valoraba positivamente la relación con su padre; el 38.5% pernoctaba con él; el 80.2% de los padres no participaba en las decisiones de sus hijos e hijas; y el 46,8% no pagaba la pensión establecida por el juez. Los resultados indicaron que los niños y niñas presentaban una buena autoestima (M = 2.96; SD = 0.53). Finalmente, mostraron una relación significativa entre la autoestima infantil y la calidad de la relación padre-hijo (F(1,73) = 5.92, p <0.01). Estos resultados ofrecen claves para mejorar la autoestima infantil tras el divorcio parental, considerando el papel que juega sobre la misma la implicación del padre no residente.

Recruitment, Retention, and Intervention Outcomes from the Dedicated African American Dad (DAAD) Study

A significant proportion of African American (AA) fathers live in households apart from their young children. This living arrangement can have detrimental effects for children, families, and fathers. One hundred seventy-eight (n = 178) AA fathers, not residing with their 2-6-year-old children, were enrolled in a randomized trial to test the Building Bridges to Fatherhood (BBTF) program against a financial literacy comparison condition. BBTF is an intervention that was developed collaboratively with a fathers' advisory council of AA fathers who oversaw all aspects of program development. Based upon advisory council feedback, short video scenes captured fathers interacting with their children, their children's mothers, and other fathers. These video scenes were used to jump start the discussion around fatherhood, parenting, communication, and problem solving during the intervention group meetings. The actors in the video scenes were recruited from the community. Two trained group leaders, using a standardized group leader manual, delivered the intervention. The Money Smart Financial Literacy Program (MSFLP), which served as the comparator, was also delivered by AA men. Program satisfaction was high in both conditions. Even so recruitment and retention challenges influenced the ability to detect father and child outcomes. This study informs the participation of vulnerable urban AA fathers in community-based fatherhood intervention research and provides insight into bolstering engagement in studies focused on this population.

Father-Teen Talks about Sex and Teens' Sexual Health: The Role of Direct and Indirect Communication

Family talks about sex can protect against teens' risky sexual behavior, but most research has focused on the role of mothers. The current study included cross-sectional survey data from 728 adolescents in the 11th and 12th grades (Mage = 17.00, SD = 0.90) in the United States. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens' direct and indirect talk, defined as less straightforward ways to communicate one's sexual values, with fathers about sex, and teens' sexual behaviors. There were no significant direct associations between father-teen talk about sex and teens' sexual behavior. However, teen gender moderated associations between indirect father-teen communication and teens' sexual behavior. The results suggest the need to assess indirect talk about sex in studies of family sexuality communication and to further investigate the role of teens' identities in determining the influence of father-teen talk about sex on teens' sexual behavior.

Maternal Psychological Well-Being and Infant Emergency Department Utilization

BACKGROUND

A mother's psychological well-being impacts her own and her infant's health. Challenges to maternal psychological well-being (eg, depression, anxiety) are associated with increased infant emergency department (ED) utilization. It is not known if other maternal psychological factors, such as relational health and past maltreatment during one's own childhood, are also associated with child ED utilization.

OBJECTIVE

Examine maternal psychological factors (ie, childhood maltreatment, mental health, and relational health) associated with infant ED utilization in the first year of life.

DESIGN/METHODS

Participants included 120 economically disadvantaged women recruited into a prospective longitudinal study during pregnancy and followed across the first year of their child's life. Mothers reported number of infant ED visits from birth to 1 year (assessed 12-months postpartum), as well as on their own childhood maltreatment, relational health, and mental health (assessed prenatally). Associations between maternal experiences and infant ED utilization were assessed via bivariate correlations and regression analyses.

RESULTS

Infants attended on average 0.79 ED visits (range 0-6). Maltreatment during the mother's own childhood, poor relational health, and prenatal mental health symptoms were each associated with greater infant ED visits; maternal age, income, and education were not. In a Poisson regression, childhood sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of infant ED utilization, followed by low acceptance from the mother's father figure and prenatal depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal assessment of psychosocial factors may help identify risk for higher ED use. Women with psychosocial risk factors may need additional support establishing supportive primary and behavioral health care before and after birth.

Improving Parenting Practices Among Fathers Who Misuse Opioids: Fathering Through Change Intervention

Fathers have been largely neglected in the parenting literature though there is a critical need to improve parenting practices among fathers who misuse opioids in the midst of the opioid epidemic. Urgency is critical to rapidly intervene in the lives of fathers and children to reduce misuse and interrupt intergenerational cycles of substance misuse. Thus, we provide an overview of solutions to adapt existing parenting interventions for fathers who misuse opioids to accelerate the pace of science for this population.

Adolescents’ Post-Divorce Sense of Belonging

Abstract. A considerable number of children face the divorce or separation of their parents globally every year. As parental divorce is often accompanied by changes in the home and social environment of adolescents, they may experience a diminished sense of belonging to one or multiple social contexts, such as the family, school, peer group, or neighborhood, which can, in turn, influence their post-divorce adjustment. To gain insight into the mechanisms and conditions that affect adolescents’ sense of belonging following parental divorce, we have reviewed empirical research from multiple disciplines from a bio-ecological perspective. This review has shown that adolescents’ sense of belonging can be an important protective factor after parental divorce, and is affected by processes at the micro-, meso-, exo-, and macrolevel. However, extensive knowledge on the determinants and mechanisms that affect adolescents’ belonging in the context of divorce remains lacking. Recommendations for future research are given, as a more thorough understanding of the factors that promote the belonging of adolescents in divorced families can be an important next step in promoting a higher quality of life for adolescents after parental divorce.

Long-term effects of father involvement in childhood on their son's physiological stress regulation system in adulthood

Using a long-term prospective longitudinal study of U.S. men and their fathers, the present study examined the extent to which the quantity (i.e., shared activities between fathers and sons) and the quality (i.e., assessors' ratings of fathers' positive behaviors toward sons and the relationship quality between fathers and sons) of father involvement during childhood influenced sons' diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol in adulthood (late 30s) directly and indirectly through substance use across the 20s. Findings indicated that the quantity of father involvement during childhood was directly associated with sons' diurnal cortisol patterns assessed almost 30 years later. Specifically, the quantity of father involvement in childhood significantly increased the intercept (i.e., upon awakening) and also led to a greater reduction in cortisol across the day, suggesting a well-regulated diurnal cortisol pattern. The quantity of father involvement significantly reduced the amount of sons' illicit drug and tobacco use across the 20s. Tobacco use across the 20s was associated with a lower cortisol intercept level (upon awakening), although the mediating path was not significant. The present study provided empirical evidence demonstrating long-term physiological and behavioral consequences of father involvement in childhood and its potency as a crucial early caregiving environment for sons.

When Fathers Are Involved: Examining Relational and Psychosocial Health among Military Families

Father involvement can promote the psychosocial health of family members (i.e., fathers, mothers, and children). However, the association between father involvement and individual members' psychosocial health may depend on the quality of the marital relationship and the perceptions of the reporting family member. Research with multiple reporters from the same family is needed identify how family members perceive the impact of father involvement on family member well-being. Using a risk and resilience theoretical framework applied to a family systems perspective, the current study examines associations between father involvement, family flexibility, marital quality, and psychosocial health with a sample of 207 military families (including fathers, mothers, and their adolescents). After accounting for military context, a conditional structural equation model was used to examine the associations between fathers' involvement and family members' psychosocial health. Family flexibility was examined as a mediator between these associations and marital quality as a moderator. Findings suggest that when fathers are more involved, both mothers and fathers report less family flexibility, and that family flexibility was positively associated with family member (father, mother, and adolescent) well-being. Further, father involvement was indirectly related to mothers' psychosocial health through family flexibility, and father involvement was directly associated with better psychosocial health for fathers and adolescents. Marital quality moderated these associations for fathers, mothers, and adolescents. Given the combined benefits of father involvement, family flexibility, and positive marital relationships, clinical efforts to provide information to increase knowledge and skills around maintaining a healthy relationship could serve to promote psychosocial health by improving marital quality and family flexibility.

Nonresident Fathers' and Grandparents' Early Years Support and Middle Childhood Socio-Emotional Adjustment

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates how different patterns of nonresident father support for children and mothers in the early years predict middle childhood adjustment, and whether grandparent support has compensating effects.

BACKGROUND

Nonresident fathers' involvement in children's lives benefits socio-emotional adjustment, but it is unclear whether support directed at children is compromised by interparental tensions, or whether other factors may compensate for weaker patterns of father support.

METHOD

Latent class analyses identified patterns of nonresident father support for single mothers and their 34-month-old child (None 35%, Low 16%, Moderate 21%, High 28%) and grandparent support (Low 15%, Moderate Maternal 33%, High Maternal 43%, High Maternal and Paternal 9%), using a sample of 648 families from the Growing Up in Scotland cohort. Effects of father support on children's internalizing and externalizing problems from age 46 to 122 months were explored (n = 352), together with moderating effects of grandparent support.

RESULTS

Low, Moderate and No father support had similar estimated effects on higher externalizing and internalizing problem levels, and steeper increases in internalizing problems. Compared to Low grandparent support, High Maternal and Paternal grandparent support reduced effects of weaker father support on both types of problem; and was more protective than High Maternal grandparent support against internalizing problems.

CONCLUSION

Weaker patterns of nonresident father support in early childhood, characterized by low involvement and interparental tensions or by no contact, were associated with poorer middle childhood adjustment. Support from both sets of grandparents offered children most protection against the effects of weaker father support.

Examining Parental Expectations and Fault Attributions for Child Sexual Abuse

Previous research has demonstrated that nonoffending mothers are held at fault when their child is sexually abused and this fault is directly linked to a decrease in help-seeking behavior. It is unclear, however, whether similar fault is applied to nonoffending fathers, as little such research on fathers exists. What does exist is marked by methodological limitations. Using an experimental vignette design, 154 participants were randomly assigned to read one of two hypothetical abuse scenarios (i.e., nonoffending mother or nonoffending father) depicting the sexual abuse of a female child by an adult male perpetrator. Participants rated levels of fault attributions assigned to either parent and then provided open-ended responses outlining their reasons for their attribution ratings. Quantitatively, both mothers and fathers were assigned similar amounts of fault for the sexual abuse. Thematic analysis of participants' justifications for their assigned fault attributions revealed both mothers and fathers are subject to similar expectations that either increase or decrease assigned fault, with the exception of one theme, Disbursement, in which participants distributed fault away from fathers toward others (e.g., the nonoffending mother). By understanding parent blaming and the reasons behind parent blaming attributions, future research can work to improve these attitudes.

Joint Physical Custody and Adolescents' Life Satisfaction in 37 North American and European Countries

Joint physical custody, a parental care arrangement in which a child lives with each parent about equally after separation or divorce, is an increasingly common phenomenon in many Western countries. Although attention from family scholars, practitioners, and law professionals is growing, there are hardly any numbers on the prevalence of joint physical custody (JPC). Moreover, studies using large-scale representative data on the effects of JPC for children's well-being are still rare. The data for this study come from Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC), a representative cross-national survey of adolescents in 37 European and North American countries that was conducted in 2002, 2006, and 2010 and included information on students at the ages of 11, 13, and 15 years (N = 92,886). First, results revealed that symmetrical JPC after family dissolution is still very rare in the majority of countries (5% or less), but reaches 10-20% in some countries. Second, adolescents' life satisfaction in nonintact families is higher in symmetric JPC arrangements than in asymmetric care arrangements. However, after controlling for children and family characteristics, the differences disappear. Thus, it is not the symmetric JPC arrangement that induces adolescents' higher life satisfaction, but rather the children and family characteristics that are associated with the choice of such a custody arrangement by separated or divorced parents.

Fathers' Involvement with Their Children Before and After Separation

Changes in fathering over the last decades have led to substantially more involvement of fathers in their children's upbringing. At the same time, high rates of parental separation and subsequent loss of contact fuel concern about separated fathers' role in their children's lives. Underlying such concern is the assumption that separation represents a discontinuity in fathers' parenting. This paper investigates whether fathers' pre- and post-separation paternal involvement is linked: are fathers with lower levels of contact after separation those who were less involved fathers when co-resident? To answer this question, we draw on a nationally representative UK longitudinal study of children born in 2000-2001 to interrogate the links between fathering before and after separation for 2107 fathers, who separated from their child's mother before the child was age 11. We show that fathers who were more involved parents prior to separation tend to have more frequent contact after separation, adjusting for other paternal and family characteristics. The size of this association between pre- and post-separation fathering is, however, modest, and even among more involved fathers, intensity of contact declines over time.

New fathers' parenting quality: Personal, contextual, and child precursors

Fathers' high-quality parenting behaviors support the development of positive social and emotional adjustment in children. However, a complete understanding of individual differences in fathers' parenting quality requires considering multiple precursors to parenting in the same model. This study examined associations of three classes of predictors with fathers' parenting quality: personal (i.e., personality, intuitive parenting behavior, and progressive beliefs), contextual (i.e., supportive coparenting, romantic relationship quality, job satisfaction), and child characteristics (i.e., temperament). These predictors of observed parenting quality (i.e., sensitivity, emotional engagement, positive regard) were examined among 182 fathers who transitioned to parenthood in 2008-2010. Results from structural equation modeling analyses indicated that fathers who showed higher-quality parenting behavior with their 9-month-old infants were those who demonstrated greater intuitive parenting behavior prior to their child's birth, reported greater conscientiousness, reported greater openness to experience, and had more supportive coparenting relationships with their partners at 3 months postpartum. Implications for future research on fathers' parenting and applications to prevention and intervention programs for expectant and new parents are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Does Time with Dad in Childhood Pay Off in Adolescence?

OBJECTIVE

We aim to understand the association between father involvement in middle childhood and adolescent behaviors and whether the relationship differs by father residence.

BACKGROUND

Internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescence can trigger a cascade of negative outcomes later in life, including lower educational attainment, criminal justice involvement, and future psychological distress. Evidence, largely focusing on nonresidential fathers and older cohort, suggests that father involvement-particularly closeness and engagement-may reduce adolescents' internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

METHOD

We use data six waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a birth cohort survey representative of births in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000, to estimate OLS regression models examining (a) whether father involvement in middle childhood is associated with fewer problem behaviors at Age 15, (b) if the salience of father involvement differs depending on whether the father was present in the home (i.e., was married to or living with his child's mother) in middle childhood, and (c) whether father involvement matters differently based on the child's sex.

RESULTS

We find protective associations between father involvement and adolescent behavioural outcomes that persist even among children who were not living with their fathers. In models stratified by the child's sex, father involvement matters for both boys and girls. In all models, father presence alone, apart from active involvement, is not significantly associated with behavioral outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Father involvement protects against negative adolescent behaviors even among children with nonresidential fathers and for both boys and girls.

IMPLICATIONS

These results suggest that policies that promote greater father involvement and father-child bonds, rather than other options such as promoting marriage, may be more effective in reducing behavioral problems among adolescents.

Parenting Practices and Emerging Adult Sexual Health: The Role of Residential Fathers

Emerging adulthood is a developmental period with high rates of sexual risk behavior. Effective parenting practices can reduce the likelihood of this behavior, but most research on the protective effects of parenting focuses on mothers. Research is needed to assess the role of paternal parenting in regards to their children's sexual risk behavior, particularly for children of teen mothers, who show a greater likelihood of risky sexual behaviors than those with older mothers. We investigated associations between residential fathers' parenting processes-communication, disapproval of teen sexual behavior, parental presence, and closeness-during adolescence and sexual risk behaviors reported by their children in emerging adulthood. Using multiple group structural equation modeling with data from 7399 participants at Wave I and Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we examined whether and how residential fathers' parenting relates to their children's sexual risk behavior independent of mothers' parenting processes, and whether these associations differ across children's sex and for children of teen and older mothers. We found that adolescents' perceptions of higher father disapproval of teen sexual behavior predicted lower levels of sexual risk behavior during emerging adulthood with no significant differences across emerging adults' sex or for children of teen relative to older mothers. Our findings suggest that teens' relationships with their fathers during adolescence are important for their future sexual health, despite a general understanding of emerging adulthood as a period characterized by independence and separation from parents. Additionally, our results suggest that even though children of teen mothers show greater likelihood of risky sexual behaviors than those of older parents, the processes through which fathers can support teens' sexual health may be similar.

Paternal Support and Involvement in Unmarried Fragile Families: Impacts on Long-Term Maternal Mental Health

Fragile families are defined as those that include unmarried or romantically unstable parents who have children and are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Mothers in fragile families may experience risk factors that lead to increased depressive symptoms that inhibit their ability to bounce back after stressful events. Risk factors for poorer maternal mental health may include declines in father involvement and a lack of coparenting support. This study examined the connected nature of coparenting and father involvement over time among continuously unmarried mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. A bidirectional latent growth curve analysis demonstrated that early father involvement was associated with a more gradual decline in coparenting support over the child's first 5 years, while early coparenting support also predicted a slower decline in father involvement over time. Steeper declines in coparenting support and father involvement over time were linked with more maternal depression and lower maternal life satisfaction when their child was nine. Results demonstrate a clear need for targeted intervention with both parents in fragile families to promote involved fathering behavior and enhance coparental relationships.

Fathers' Dosage in Community-based Programs for Low-income Fathers

Community-based programs for low-income fathers often struggle to get fathers to attend services and activities. This paper reviews the literature examining approaches to measuring dosage in fatherhood programs, rates of dosage, influences on dosage, and the associations between dosage and fathers' outcomes. Studies were limited to programs that conducted randomized control trials, quasi-experimental studies, and one-group pretest/post-test designs. Although most programs report low or moderate dosage levels, some programs achieve high levels of fathers' participation in parenting, coparenting, and economic security classes. Few studies examined dosage in relation to father outcomes. All but one of seven studies reporting effects showed that higher dose levels had positive associations with outcomes such as engagement with children, parenting satisfaction and self-efficacy, perception of coparenting quality, payment of child support, and earnings from work. This paper discusses future directions for studying father's dosage in fatherhood programs.

Father Involvement in Infant Parenting in an Ethnically Diverse Community Sample: Predicting Paternal Depressive Symptoms

Early paternal involvement in infant care is beneficial to child and maternal health, and possibly for paternal mental health. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between fathers' involvement in early infant parenting and their depressive symptoms during the infant's first year in a sample of 881 low-income Black, Hispanic, and White fathers recruited from five sites in the United States (urban, mixed urban/suburban, rural). Home interviews at 1 month after birth assessed three concepts based on prior research and community input: (1) time spent with the infant, (2) parenting self-efficacy, (3) material support for the baby. Paternal depressive symptoms at 1, 6, and 12 months after the birth of a child were assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Generalized estimating equations tested whether the three indicators of father involvement at 1 month after birth predicted lower subsequent paternal depressive symptoms controlling for social and demographic variables. For fathers, greater time spent with the infant, parenting self-efficacy, and material support were all significantly associated with lower paternal depressive symptoms during the first year. When risk of depression (scores > 9) was examined, only parenting self-efficacy among fathers was associated with higher likelihood of clinical depression. Findings have implications for future research on mechanisms linking paternal involvement and paternal mental health, and for possible paid paternal leave policies in the future.

Advancing Research and Measurement on Fathering and Child Development

Fathers are more than social accidents. Research has demonstrated that fathers matter to children's development. Despite noted progress, challenges remain on how best to conceptualize and assess fathering and father-child relationships. The current monograph is the result of an SRCD-sponsored meeting of fatherhood scholars brought together to discuss these challenges and make recommendations for best practices for incorporating fathers in studies on parenting and children's development. The first aim of this monograph was to provide a brief update on the current state of research on fathering and to lay out a developmental ecological systems perspective as a conceptual framework for understanding the different spaces fathers inhabit in their children's lives. Because there is wide variability in fathers' roles, the ecological systems perspective situates fathers, mothers, children, and other caregivers within an evolving network of interrelated social relationships in which children and their parents change over time and space (e.g., residence). The second aim was to present examples of empirical studies conducted by members of the international working group that highlighted different methods, data collection, and statistical analyses used to capture the variability in father-child relationships. The monograph ends with a commentary that elaborates on the ecological systems framework with a discussion of the broader macrosystem and social-contextual influences that impinge on fathers and their children. The collection of articles contributes to research on father-child relationships by advancing theory and presenting varied methods and analysis strategies that assist in understanding the father-child relationship and its impact on child development.

Maternal and Paternal Cognitive Engagement and Children’s Literacy Skills in 25 African Countries

There is increasing interest in promoting positive parenting to improve childhood development in low- and middle-income countries. Following propositions in parenting and cultural-ecological frameworks about the importance of early parent-child engagement in fostering children’s literacy skills, we used the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Surveys to assess the associations between maternal and paternal book reading, storytelling, and naming/counting and early literacy skills in 90,397 families and their preschool-aged children in 25 low- and middle-income African countries. Individual participant data meta-analysis indicated strong associations between maternal and paternal engagement in reading, storytelling, and naming/counting and children’s letter recognition, reading simple words, and recognizing symbols. Preschool enrollment and maternal education consistently moderated the associations between maternal and paternal engagement activities and children’s literacy skills. These findings are in agreement with those found in the high-income countries and have implications for the transferability of parenting practices from high-income to low- and middle-income countries in efforts to improve the early academic skills of young children.

Fathers’ Cognitive Engagement and Preschoolers’ Literacy Skills in Three Ethnic Groups in Trinidad and Tobago

Using the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, this study assessed the associations between fathers’ cognitive engagement and preschoolers’ literacy skills in African Caribbean, Indo-Caribbean, and mixed-ethnic Caribbean families in Trinidad and Tobago. The sample consisted of 476 fathers and their preschool-aged children. Multigroup structural equation modeling indicated that paternal cognitive engagement was associated with children’s literacy skills in mixed-ethnic Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean families above and beyond maternal cognitive engagement activities. Across all groups, children’s age, number of hours in preschool, and number of children’s books in the home were associated with children’s literacy skills. Fathers’ residential status was associated with children’s literacy skills differently across ethnic groups. Findings are interpreted in terms of the importance and consistency of paternal engagement in the home environment for the acquisition of early language skills in developing countries.

Father-Adolescent Conflict and Adolescent Symptoms: The Moderating Roles of Father Residential Status and Type

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine if the longitudinal associations between father-adolescent conflict and both externalizing and internalizing symptoms in youth were moderated by fathers' residential status (i.e., whether or not he lived in the home) and type of residential father (i.e., biological or step).

METHODS

Adolescents (N = 146) completed a measure about conflict with their father or stepfather in 8th and 9th grade. At the same time points, mothers completed measures about the youths' externalizing and internalizing symptoms.

RESULTS

The association between 8th grade conflict and 9th grade externalizing symptoms was moderated by fathers' residential status. Conflict with fathers in 8th grade was positively associated with 9th grade externalizing symptoms when youths resided with their father (biological and stepfathers were included); in contrast, higher levels of father-adolescent conflict were associated with lower levels of subsequent externalizing symptoms when fathers did not live with the youth. Externalizing symptoms in 8th grade did not significantly predict father-adolescent conflict in grade 9. Regarding internalizing symptoms, the association between father-adolescent conflict in 8th grade and internalizing symptoms in 9th grade was moderated by father's residential status; conflict predicted higher levels of internalizing symptoms when the biological father lived elsewhere. Higher levels of 8th grade internalizing symptoms also significantly predicted greater conflict between adolescents and their fathers in 9th grade for residential fathers only.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations among adolescent emotional and behavioral outcomes and paternal-child relationship qualities vary with symptom type and family structures and, thus, warrant further comprehensive study.

Father's Health Status and Inequalities in Physical and Mental Health of U.S. Children: A Population-Based Study

Introduction: Father-and-child-health risk relationship is poorly studied and understood. We examine the impact of father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics on the physical and mental outcomes of U.S. children 0–17 years of age.

Methods: The 2011–2012 National Survey of Children's Health (N=75,879) was analyzed to estimate prevalence and odds of poor physical and mental health among children according to father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Overall, 3.2% of U.S. children had poor physical health; and 6.0% of U.S. children had emotional or behavioral problems. The adjusted odds of having poor overall health was 3.1 times higher among children of fathers with poor overall health. Children of fathers with poor mental health had 2.6 times higher adjusted odds of having poor mental health.

Discussion: Results underscore the significant role of fathers in the physical and mental well-being of children. Engaging fathers in child health may provide a potential opportunity to reduce mental and emotional health problems among children.

Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention of Fathers in Nutrition Education and Obesity Research

This article provides a perspective about recruiting, engaging, and retaining fathers in research and programming related to nutrition education and childhood obesity prevention. Recent research emphasizes the importance of fathers in childhood obesity prevention, and although father-friendly approaches can emulate other underserved populations, some researchers have acknowledged that differences may exist. Family sciences- related and nutritional sciences-related literature is summarized to provide guidance for nutrition and obesity scholars. Best practices may vary by the type of study and father characteristics; and the venues, content, structure, timing, and approach of research and interventions may need to be tailored for fathers.

L’expérience de pères ayant des difficultés d’accès à leur enfant après une séparation

Cadre de la recherche : La reconnaissance par la communauté scientifique d’un engagement accru des pères auprès de leurs enfants ainsi qu’un partage des responsabilités entre les parents devrait se traduire par un maintien de la présence des pères auprès de leurs enfants à la suite d’une séparation conjugale. Si, en principe, les parents sont égaux devant la loi en ce qui a trait à leur droit d’exercice respectif de l’autorité parentale, on observe cependant des écarts dans le partage de la garde entre les mères et les pères.

Objectifs : Cette recherche a pour but d’identifier les facteurs qui contribuent à diminuer ou rompre l’accès de pères à leur enfant à la suite de leur séparation conjugale.

Méthodologie : Les données de recherche sont tirées d’entrevues semi-dirigées réalisées auprès de quatorze pères séparés ayant des difficultés d’accès à leur enfant et qui ont porté sur leur situation de vie afin de relever les facteurs et dynamiques qui expliquent la situation en partant de leur point de vue.

Résultats : Contrairement à plusieurs recherches qui attribuent ces contacts moins fréquents du père séparé avec son enfant à un désengagement de sa part, une multitude de facteurs autres que les facteurs individuels ont été identifiés.

Conclusions : Les conclusions de la recherche mettent en lumière plusieurs facteurs relevant de différents niveaux écosystémiques qui se cumulent, fragilisant ainsi la relation avec l’enfant.

Contribution : Cette recherche offre une perspective multifactorielle permettant de cerner la complexité de ce phénomène et des processus par lesquels il se construit. Elle documente un phénomène méconnu, celui des pères qui souhaitent cultiver ces liens, mais qui sont confrontés à des difficultés d’accès à leur enfant.

Fatherhood Matters: An Integrative Review of Fatherhood Intervention Research

Positive father involvement is critical to the healthy social, emotional, and academic outcomes of children at all stages of development. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify, categorize, and evaluate the potential impact of fatherhood interventions on father and child outcomes. A systematic search of four major research databases yielded 44 studies published between 1988 and 2018 that met study inclusion criteria. The most effective interventions were delivered in the community, with fathers convened in groups. Content focused on promoting positive parenting, co-parenting, and father/child relationships. Consequently, father involvement and child cognitive and socioemotional development were improved. Academic settings were underutilized in the fatherhood interventions in this review. We conclude that in order to optimize healthy child development, school officials must adopt a more inclusive stance toward the involvement of fathers in their children's education. Future randomized trials of fatherhood interventions delivered within school-based settings are warranted.