Library Search

This article discusses how challenging divorced fathers find remaining in their child’s academic development. The research is based on conversations made with 20 divorced dads, their experiences with school staff, and their failure to acknowledge them as parents. This article also overviews the benefits of having involved fathers in the lives of young children. 

Introduction: Interventions aimed at the formation of healthy lifestyles at an early age could be an effective tool to reduce obesity levels in schoolchildren.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an intervention in diet and physical activity (PA) in reducing obesity in schoolchildren.

Methods: A total of 312 schoolchildren participated in this intervention, which was applied for five months. Workshops were developed for the family and children with educational material based on Chilean food guides, together with 45 minutes of PA daily. Nutritional status was assessed with…

Research highlights the need for ongoing social support of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Despite recognized differences between mothers and fathers, little is known about the particular social support needs of fathers of children with ASD. Broadly, this study aimed to explore the support needs of fathers of children with ASD compared with fathers of children without a disability (W/OD) and the relation between social support, psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors. Drawing from a large, nationally representative community sample of children, 159…

This study examined the longitudinal associations between fathers’ observed parenting behaviors and father-infant attachment. Fathers were observed playing with their infants at 9 months postpartum and were assessed for stimulating behaviors (i.e., physical and/or object stimulation), as well as their sensitivity and intrusiveness. When the infants were 12 to 18 months of age, fathers and infants participated together in the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) to assess father-infant attachment security. Logistic regression analyses revealed that higher levels of paternal stimulation at 9…

Nonstandard work schedules may negatively impact father involvement either directly by reducing fathers' availability or indirectly by taking a toll on their well‐being. Prior research on nonstandard schedules and father involvement has focused on two‐parent households, yet nonstandard schedules may pose similar or greater challenges to nonresident fathers. Using data on 1,598 resident and 759 nonresident fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the findings revealed that among nonresident fathers, working evenings was associated with lower engagement relative to…

The aim of the study was to examine mother–child connectedness and father–child connectedness in adolescence as potential protective factors against a range of disordered eating symptoms in young adulthood among males and females.  This study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 13,532). Sex-stratified logistic regression models adjusted for demographic covariates were conducted to examine associations of youth-reported mother–child connectedness and father–child connectedness in adolescence (mean age = 15.4 years) with disordered eating…

Although scholars have highlighted the differential impacts of father involvement on the outcomes of sons and daughters, less attention has been given to the impact of father involvement on Black adolescent females. This line of inquiry is important given the unique risks Black females face, such as increased likelihood of early unintended pregnancy, increasing rates of delinquency, and increased interaction with law enforcement. Given its potential impact, it is important to explore the ways in which father involvement matters to female adolescents’ intentions to engage in risky behaviors…