Introduction and Background Research evidence has indicated that parents’ psychiatric disorders are associated with increased risks of psychological and developmental problems in their children (e.g. Murray and Cooper, 2003). Much research has been done on mothers and the impact of their mental health on their children’s development. However, in most countries and cultures, fathers have an … Read more
Introduction This is an abstract of Infant-Parent Attachment and Parental and Child Behaviour during Parent-Toddler Storybook Interaction by Cynthia A. Frosch, Martha J. Cox and Barbara Davis Goldman. The paper was published in 2001 in Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: A Journal of Developmental Psychology. Background This paper studies the association between the infant-parent attachment and later toddler-parent storybook interactions. It adds … Read more
Introduction The following is an abstract of Race/Ethnic Differences in Father Involvement in Two-Parent Families: Culture, Context, or Economy? by Sandra L Hofferth (University of Maryland). A father’s emotional investment, attachment, and provision of resources are associated with children’s cognitive development and social competence. Differential achievement in child development by various racial/ethnic groups may result from differential … Read more
While much research has focused on young single mothers, little is known of the men who fathered their children. Young fathers are often invisible as a group, in research and practice, or if discussed, regarded as part of the problem rather than solution. This research brief highlights the challenges of early fatherhood as well as … Read more
Introduction A narrow focus on the amount of time that fathers spend with their children neglects the diverse roles that fathers play in their children’s development and the diverse motivations of fathers today. Michael Lamb makes this point in his review of changing approaches to the study of fatherhood, and calls for a more inclusive … Read more
Introduction Family life in Singapore has evolved significantly over the last three decades. Today, the scenario of “breadwinner dad” and “stay-at-home mum” is no longer typical. While fathers remain generally less involved than mothers in caregiving for children, fatherhood in Singapore looks set to evolve further in the future. This brief reviews available statistics on … Read more
Malm K., Murray J. and Geen R.What About the Dads? Child Welfare Agencies’ Efforts to Identify, Locate and Involve Nonresident Fathers. (Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2006) http://www.urban.org/publications/411316.html . Most foster children are not living with their fathers at the time they are … Read more
Introduction Many studies have linked father absence in non-intact families to juvenile delinquency. However, fewer have discussed the specific aspects of father involvement that reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency. This provides a review of the literature discussing the link between fatherhood and delinquency in adolescents, with a focus on what fathers can do for … Read more
Mcallister, C., Wilson, P., and Burton, J. (2004). From sports fans to nurturers: An Early Head Start program’s evolution toward father involvement. Fathering, 2 (1), 31-59. . Introduction While the assumption that sports is an interest to fathers is stereotypical, it is often a helpful pathway for fathers into parenting programmes, as an Early Head Start … Read more
The Critical Transition to Fatherhood Two critical components of a healthy transition to parenthood are parenting self-efficacy – the mastery of the parenthood role – and parenting satisfaction with the parenting role. Both elements describe the parent’s comfort with parenting behaviour required in healthy and effective infant care. For fathers, regardless of background, the birth … Read more