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Journal Article A review of five major social work journals published during a 27-year period indicates that the literature on fathers is sparse. The view of fathers that emerges from articles that have been published shows fathers as perpetrators, as missing, and as embattled. If the social work profession is to remain committed to working with families, then researchers and practitioners must study the changing patterns of fatherhood. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article This study investigated factors related to adolescent fathers' willingness to take parental responsibility for their children. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 43 African-American unwed adolescent fathers. Demographic information was gathered, and self-image was measured using the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. An author-developed questionnaire measured father's parental responsibility, his own role expectations, and the perceived role expectations of his partner and parents. The findings indicated that father's parental responsibility was influenced by his own role…
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Journal Article The author investigated the relationship between self-image and parental behavior of adolescent fathers. The study included a convenience sample of 43 African American unwed adolescent fathers. Data were collected from a questionnaire. Findings indicated that attitudes regarding family of origin and sexuality as well as coping skills influenced parental responsibility. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article The relationship between quality of infant attachment to parents and sociability toward a strange adult was investigated, and level of stranger sociability with father present was compared to that with mother present. Results suggest that during the child's second year, and particularly for boys, the presence of the father represents a distinct social context for the child. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article As the number of single fathers raising children alone grows, increased demands are placed on mental health practitioners to meet their needs. A significant portion of single fathers with custody feel uncomfortable in their role. A 1987-1988 survey of 1,132 single fathers is used to identify the characteristics of those fathers who are potentially at risk for problems related to feeling uncomfortable in their role. Implications for work with this population are discussed. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article This article discusses paternity proceedings which unwed birth fathers initiate in order to obtain visitation with or custody of their child. In Part 1 the author provides an overview of the legal issues he will develop regarding the rights of putative fathers. Part 2 discusses the presumption of legitimacy, which prevents birth fathers from admitting in evidence facts which would render the child illegitimate. Part 3 examines the best interests of the child standard and the United States Supreme Court cases where birth fathers have sought visitation or custody. This section also explores the…
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Journal Article Using data from a longitudinal study of employed women before and after pregnancy, the authors look at 490 married mothers of infants working full time to determine the relationship of husband supportiveness to their well-being. A substantial relationship was found between perceptions of husband supportiveness and women's reports of their well-being However, although most respondents reported that their husbands were supportive, they did not report high levels of concrete help from them. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article This 2-year longitudinal study of 121 6 to 12-year-old children in the custody of their mothers following parental separation examined main and interacting effects of child's age and gender, frequency and regularity of visitation, father-child closeness, and parental legal conflict on children's self-esteem and behavioral adjustment at two time points. Predictors were found to have different implications for different groups of children and for children in different situations. Findings suggest the futility of seeking simple answers as to whether ongoing contact with fathers following divorce…
