Getting dads involved: Predictors of father involvement in Early Head Start and with their children

Abstract

Father characteristics and psychosocial functioning were examined as predictors of father involvement both with an Early Head Start (EHS) program and with their infant. Variables examined as potential predictors were selected based on the program's emphasis on building relationships as their primary intervention strategy. The 72 low-income fathers included in this study were predominantly Caucasian and married or living with their child's mother. Fathers' characteristics predicted their involvement in expected ways. Fathers were rated as more involved, both with their infants and with the EHS program, when they were better educated, less depressed, more likely to use social support especially spiritual support, and more active in their religion. Fathers who had better relationships with home visitors were those who had these same characteristics and also were less anxious about close relationships. In addition, fathers who were later rated as more engaged with their infants reported doing more activities with their infants at 10 months. These results suggest that the fathers who most need support to become more involved with their children are likely to be those who are the most difficult to get involved in an EHS program.RESUMEN: Las características del padre y el funcionamiento sicosocial fueron examinados como factores de predicción del involucramiento del padre tanto con un programa de "Early Head Start" (EHS) así como con su propio infante. Las variables examinadas como posibles factores de predicción fueron seleccionadas con base en el énfasis que el programa pone en el establecimiento de las relaciones afectivas como su primordial estrategia de intervención. Los 72 padres de bajos recursos que formaron parte de este estudio eran predominantemente de raza blanca y estaban casados o vivían con la madre de sus hijos. Las características de los padres predijeron su involucramiento de la manera como se esperaba. A los padres se les evaluó como "más involucrados," tanto con sus infantes como con el programa EHS, cuando tenían mejor educación, eran menos depresivos, más propensos a usar apoyos sociales-especialmente apoyo espiritual-y más activos dentro de sus actividades religiosas. Los padres que presentaron una mejor relación con los que les visitaban en sus casas fueron aquellos que tenían las mismas características y que también mostraban menos ansiedad con respecto a relaciones afectivas cercanas. Adicionalmente, los padres que más tarde fueron evaluados como "más comprometidos" con sus infantes declararon que llevaban a cabo más actividades con sus hijos a los diez meses de nacidos. Estos resultados sugieren que This study was supported by grant 90-YF-0004 from the Head Start Bureau Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. We appreciate the assistance of Catherine Elwell and Kay Hansen with collecting the data. We deeply value the collaboration with Bear River Early Head Start, including Director Sarah Thurgood, Home Based Coordinator Hila Jensen, and all...

Fathers’ Roles in the Care and Development of Their Children: The Role of Pediatricians

“…105,130 In a study in families of children enrolled in Head Start, nondepressed fathers were more involved with infants than were depressed fathers. 131 Similarly, depressed fathers in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study reported less father-child activities (engagement and reciprocal play), lower levels of relationship quality with the mother, and lower levels of coparental relationship supportiveness than did nondepressed fathers. 132 Conflict in the coparental relationship may heighten the risk of the development of depression in fathers, 106,108,125 but more research is needed in this aspect of family life and paternal depression.…”

Engaging dads: Enhancing support for fathers through parenting programmes

“…Fathers play an important role in the development of children's self-regulation and social competence (McBride, Dyer, & Rane, 2008;Raikes, Summers, & Roggman, 2005;Roggman, Boyce, Cook, & Cook, 2002). Father involvement can be extremely beneficial to children's development (Berlyn et al, 2008;Fletcher, 2010;O'Brien, 2004).…”

“…Father involvement can be extremely beneficial to children's development (Berlyn et al, 2008;Fletcher, 2010;O'Brien, 2004). Several studies evidence the positive impact of fathers on children's development in areas such as school readiness, pro-social behaviours and cognitive development (Fabiano, 2007;McBride et al, 2008;Raikes et al, 2005;Roggman et al, 2002). Some research suggests that fathers have a greater influence on a child's misbehaviours than mothers (Lundahl, Tollefson, Risser, & Lovejoy, 2008).…”

“…Professionals who are culturally sensitive, adaptable, encouraging, inclusive and who build trusting relationships are able to engage fathers more effectively in support services (Berlyn et al, 2008;Fabiano, 2007;Gavazzi & Schock, 2004;Meyers, 1993;Roggman et al, 2002;Salinas et al, 2011). Fathers engage with helping professionals who convey understanding of the complexity of fathering and the valuable contribution of fathers to family life and child development (Cosson & Graham, 2012;Meyers, 1993;Torr, 2003).…”

The impact of parents’ mental health on parent–baby interaction: A prospective study

“…Evidence shows that depressed mothers are less sensitive towards their babies (Murray et al, 1996;Steadman et al, 2007), being more intrusive or withdrawn (Black et al, 2007;Field, Hernandez-Reif & Diego, 2006;Herrera, Reissland & Shephard, 2004;) and less accurate in interpreting their baby's emotions (Broth, Goodman, Hall & Raynor, 2004). Similarly paternal depression has been associated with a less optimal father -infant relationship (Field, Hossain & Malphurs, 1999;Field, 2010; for a review, see Wilson & Durbin, 2010) with examples of less involvement with their child (Roggman, Boyce, Cook & Cook, 2002). Also, maternal depression has been shown to indirectly influence the father-infant interaction negatively (Bradley & Slade, 2011;Goodman, 2008).…”