Fathers Role in Child Development Flashcards
What did Lamb (2010) find about the role of fathers in child development?
There are multiple roles: breadwinners, care providers, companions, moral guides, teachers, spouses, protectors. The social-script for fathers is much less clearly defined than for mothers - have competing societal ideals. Complementary and egalitarian roles for mothers and fathers co-exist as ideals. Always seem to talk about fathers in relation to mothers.
What did Lewis (1986) suggest about parental involvement in infant care?
Supposed to have been a huge shift - however, was not as much of a difference as expected. Biggest improvement in time after birth (paternity leave). Interview study of 100 fathers of 1-year-olds in Nottingham. Majority of men attended the births of their children, but not much else has changed in the past 20 years. May be partly due to mothers keeping control over this realm.
What did Bowlby suggest in his attachment theory?
Shows the role of fathers (the view of them) at the time. Wasn’t a push for fathers to have a hands on involvement in the care of their young children. Very different social script to what is now seen.
What are proximal determinants of father-child attachment security found by Cox, Owen, Henderson, and Margand (1992)?
38 married couples and their 1st born children. Assessed at 3 months via interviews and parent-child free play observation at home. Positive interaction during observation was positively related to attachment, as was attitude toward the infant and the parental role. Attitude was not important for Mums’ attachment – perhaps because there is a wide range of roles for fathers in society in comparison to mothers. Infant-mother and father security assessed using the strange situation. Interaction between parent and baby – including positive interaction, physical affection and a questionnaire assessing attitude toward the infant and parental role. Difference seen in attitude toward parenting role and time with infant. Interpretation is the social script for mothers is much more set in stone than that for fathers. These findings have been replicated. Increased father time with infant was a risk factor for infant-father security. This is predicted by maternal work hours – therefore, increased time with infant might not be out of choice. See a negative relationship with increased father time and quality. Voluntary time may therefore be more positive of the father-infant relationship.
What did the sisters and brothers study find? (Pike, Caldwell, and Dunn, 2006)
173 two-parents families recruited via schools in Sussex. Wide range of educational qualifications, sample was 92% Caucasian. Families visited at home. Asked about parental feelings, parent-child disagreements, parental discipline, and expression of affection. Then interviewed them with puppets.
What are the puppet reports (Ablow and Measelle, 1993)?
Created a puppet interview technique suitable for children aged 4-8. Children interacted with Iggy & Ziggy. Parents asked to complete drawing task with child. According yto child and parent reports, same amount of love/attention was reported.
What did Pleck (2010) find about paternal involvement?
Paternal involvement is the biggest way parents differ from one another, though this varies across cultures. Fathers’ engagement with children in 43.5%, and accessibility is 65.6%. Do not hold primary responsibility for any child-care task. Paternal involvement increasing slower than maternal employment.
What did Grossman, Pollack, and Golding (1988) find?
Predicting dads’ quantity and quality of fathering. 23 families followed from pregnancy - age 5. No relationship between quantity and quality of fathering. For quantity, wive’s scores more important than own characteristics (women are gate-keepers). For quality, husband’s scores more important. Shows mothering and fathering is not identical.
What are determinants of paternal behaviour?
Maternal beliefs and attitudes more predictive of fathers parenting, reverse isn’t true. Paternal self-efficacy and attitudes about parenting role are important. Marital quality (Pike et al., 2006) - good, high quality marriages foster father involvement, stress is a risk factor for father-infant relationships.
What are consequences of paternal involvement?
Preschool children of highly involved dads show more cognitive competence, more internal locus of control, more empathy, less gender-role stereotyping (Lamb, 2010). Primary school kids and adolescents of dads that show positive paternal engagement demonstrate self-control, self-esteem, life skills, and social competency (Pleck, 2010). However, father involvement can be problematic if the father has high anti-social behaviour.
Does fatherhood matter for men? (Eggenbeen and Knoester, 2001)
Used interview and questionnaire data from National Survey. Measured paternal involvement, mental and physical health, and work behaviour. Men with non-resident children were more psychologically and physically unhealthy - however differences mainly due to marital status. Men with dependent children worked longer hours. For men with resident children, higher levels of involvement related to greater life satisfaction and less work hours. Being more involvement is good for the fathers, as well as the children.
What did Bzostek (2008) find? - reading
Assessed whether involvement by resident social fathers is as beneficial for child well-being as involvement by resident biological fathers, and whether the relationship is altered. Found involvement by resident social fathers is as beneficial as non-resident biological father
What did Flouri and Bauchanan (2004) find? - reading
Longitudinal data. Initial sample was 7.259, final analysis were 3,303. Wanted to explore the role of early father involvement in children’s later educational attainment independent of the role of early mother involvement and other confounds. Found father and mother involvement at age 7 independently predicted educational achievement by age 20. Father involvement was not more important for educational attainment when mother involvement was low rather than high. Not intact two-parent family did not weaken the association.
