The result of an invited conference of scholars studying father involvement, this volume reflects on the conceptualization and measurement of father involvement within the academic and policy-making communities. It explores different measurement techniques and cultural influences impacting father involvement. The book begins by describing three of the most popular approaches to the study of father involvement and its impact: the binary approach, studies on the impact of separation and divorce, and interaction among fathers, mothers, and children. Following chapters address: assessing…
This chapter summarizes the main findings from research employing narrative methodologies on fathers of children with special needs. Analyses were conducted of two main data sets consisting of Latter-day Saint fathers of children with a variety of serious disabilities and chronic illnesses. One sample consisted of 16 fathers of young children with special needs and the other sample included 19 fathers with children of varying ages. Findings indicate the fathers felt a moral call to meet the needs of their children, they work hard to do so, and they bring strengths to this work. Many of the…
This chapter shows how conceptualization of father involvement can affect the design of intervention programs for adjudicated youth. A study involving 78 fathers of at-risk adolescents found fathers who reported using a greater number of past services for their adolescents were more likely to participate in family-based programs, as were fathers who reported poorer family problem-solving abilities, and fathers of adolescents with more severe behavior problems. A follow-up quantitative study of 20 fathers of at-risk adolescents found views on traditional family roles and feelings of inadequacy…
This chapter uses data from the Fragile Families Study to examine parental involvement by 2,776 unmarried fathers around the time of the child's birth. Findings indicate the father's ability to fulfill the provider role--demonstrated by his higher education, being employed, or higher wages--was linked to positive outcomes. Fathers who were employed were more likely to provide material support during the pregnancy and to visit the mother in the hospital; however, a father's hourly wage rate was the only significant economic characteristic predicting whether the father's name was on the…
A study examined and compared the attitudes and behaviors of fathers who have and have not abused their partners. Data were drawn from waves 1 and 2 of the National Survey of Families and Households and from the 1990 Census. In the first wave, 264 of 2,930 fathers were violent; in the second wave, 251 of 3,171 fathers were violent. Findings indicate that when ordinary activities of family life were examined, violent and nonviolent fathers did not differ with respect to the amount of time they spent with their children and there was little evidence that spouse/partner abuse increased the…
This study analyses the ways in which intervention programs can evaluate their impact on father involvement using the Fathering Indicators Framework (FIF). It describes the conceptual and methodological issues involved in developing a framework that can address the specific needs of diverse groups of fathers, and the design and development of the FIF. A field study with fathering and family practitioners (n=36) highlights the complexities that may arise in implementing the framework in programs. 16 tables and 31 references. (Author abstract modified)
This chapter examines the conflict between domestic violence advocates and father involvement programs, responsible fatherhood groups, and fathers' rights groups that promote father-child relationships in a variety of ways. Father involvement programs emphasize employment training, child support, and preparation for parenthood as strategies for increasing the emotional connection between fathers and children, while responsible fatherhood groups focus on father-child relationships as a strategy for alleviating social problems caused by weak family structures. Fathers' rights groups promote…
This chapter describes the theoretical foundations of the Positive Paternal Emotional Responsiveness (PPER) subscale of the Fatherhood Scale, which was designed to assess the childhood paternal bonds of adults. The PPER contains 13 questions that focus on the role of the father in the development of a healthy perception of self. Clients are asked to rate their experience with their father as a caring person and the frequency of paternal expressions of praise and love. The results can be used to identify areas for further exploration in therapy, such as strengths in the relationship between…
This book analyzes the processes, internal struggles, and myths that drive fatherhood politics in the United States. Information is provided from an ethnographic study of members of national fatherhood organizations that explored the ways gender, race, and sexuality, as social and historical constructions, are strategically challenged and reproduced by those who have a stake in American family politics. An introduction traces the history of the fatherhood responsibility movement, the development of Promise Keepers and the Million Man March, and the pro-feminist men's movement. Chapter 1…
This booklet discusses the anger that everyone feels sometimes and the importance of managing anger. Causes of anger and anger that leads to abuse are addressed, as well as anger warning signs, strategies for controlling anger, healthy ways to express anger, healthy habits to help deal with anger, and positive outlets for anger. Additional information is provided for coping with a child's anger and teaching a child anger management skills. Sources of help and information are listed. The booklet includes worksheets throughout the text.
