Fathers’ Involvement with their Preschool-age Children: How Fathers Spend Time with Their Children in Different Family Structures

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe how fathers (n = 263) spent time with their preschool-age children and to compare it in different family structures. Data were gathered by structured questionnaires. The instrument included five categories of variables for the time spent: the quantity of time, physical activities, fathers' attitude towards interaction with children, time spent on other activities and conflicts related to the time spent. Fathers' family structure was associated with father-child involvement. Divorced fathers and fathers in non-traditional families appreciated interaction with children more compared with fathers in traditional families. The findings can be used to develop the knowledge base on fathers and to further develop practical measures and forms of support.

Relations between coparenting and father involvement in families with preschool-age children.

“…These findings were also consistent with our expectation that father involvement in families with resident fathers and preschool aged children would show prospective associations with coparenting behavior, both because resident fathers may have more agency in parenting, and because children’s development during the preschool years may spark more direct father involvement (Bruce & Fox, 1999; Halme et al, 2009), and thus more coparenting interactions (McHale & Fivaz-Depeursinge, 1999). However, two previous studies that compared associations between the interparental relationship and fathering for resident and nonresident fathers did not find significant differences (Carlson & McLanahan, 2006; Coley & Hernandez, 2006).…”

“…Thus, fathers may be especially dependent on the existence of a supportive coparenting relationship to become actively involved with their infants. However, as children enter the toddler and preschool years, their advances in motor, cognitive, and socioemotional development may spark many fathers to become more involved (Bruce & Fox, 1999; Halme, Åstedt-Kurki, & Tarkka, 2009). More active father involvement may challenge the family equilibrium and trigger more coparenting exchanges (McHale & Fivaz-Depeursinge, 1999).…”

A comparative study of fathers' thoughts about fatherhood in the USA and Japan

“…There were many American participants who had very little interaction or involvement with their own fathers while growing up, while many Japanese participants had positive involvement with their own fathers and wanted to emulate such involvement with their children. The result of American fathers having little involvement with their fathers is consistent with the results of a study done by Halme et al (2009), indicating that fathers' family structure is related to their involvement with their own children. Another possible explanation for this might be related to the fact that the divorce rate in the USA is higher than that in Japan (Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan, 2011b).…”

“…Father involvement is defined as 'the amount of time spent in activities involving the child' (Fagan & Palm, 2004, p. 45). Researchers of fathering assert that the culture of fatherhood and the conduct of fathers have influenced societal and political changes (Fagan & Palm, 2004;LaRossa, 1997), and that these changes are not only caused by the family's structural and compositional issues (Halme, Astedt-Kurki, & Tarkka, 2009), but also by an increase of working mothers with young children. Fathers are expected to participate in childrearing as well as provide financial support.…”

Perceptions of Parenting, Emotional Self-Efficacy, and Anxiety in Youth: Test of a Mediational Model

“…The small number of participants not responding to the measure of fathers' parenting precluded comparison between adolescents who reported on both parents and those who reported only on mothers (who, in each case, indicated having no paternal involvement), and no information was obtained regarding participants' family structures. However, family structure may affect the degree to which each parent spends time with the child and the scope of parent-child activities (e.g., Halme et al 2009), which may in turn affect the relative importance of mothers' and fathers' parenting styles on child outcomes.…”