Institutional Forms of Support for Involved Fatherhood (on the Example of the "Father-groups" in social service system of St. Petersburg)

Abstract

In the modern world, family relationships and parenthood are being transformed. The transformations taking place with fatherhood in general can be assessed positively, since their result is the formation of involved fathers. Such fathers are ready to actively participate in the care of children and their upbringing, which benefits the cognitive, physical, emotional development of children, and helps to strengthen family relationships. Support, dissemination of involved paternity is the field of activity of the state, non-profit organizations, employers. The article presents the results of a study of the effectiveness of one of the institutional forms of support for involved fatherhood - groups, cycles of meetings for fathers or future fathers, where participants discuss parenting issues (father-groups). The purpose of the study is to find out how the ideas about parental roles and practices differ between fathers who participated in dad groups and fathers who did not participate in them. The empirical basis of the study was the results of surveys conducted in several stages. In 2013, a representative study of fathers in St. Petersburg was conducted. In 2013 and 2021, using a questionnaire that ensures comparability of information with the data of the survey of fathers in St. Petersburg in 2013, fathers who took classes in father-groups were interviewed . The study is based on a comparison of data from a survey of fathers in St. Petersburg and fathers who took classes in father-groups. As a result of the study, results were obtained that indicate that the ideas about parental roles of fathers who participated in father-groups differ little from the ideas of the fathers of St. Petersburg. The amount of time fathers devote to their children was also comparable. Significant differences between the fathers who participated in the father-groups were revealed in the intensity of fathers' inclusion in practices related to child care.