Supporting Involved Fathering of Young Children in Croatia: Evaluation of the "Growing Up Together Fathers' Club"

Abstract

Contemporary literature on parenting support programmes advocates for greater engagement of fathers and a stronger evidence base of the programmes' effectiveness. This study examines the outcomes of the parenting support programme "Growing Up Together Fathers' Club" conducted through four weekly workshops with fathers of young children. A pre-post intervention comparison of self-reported data from 238 fathers who completed the programme in 25 sites throughout Croatia revealed an increase in parental self-efficacy, positive involvement with the child and attempted understanding of the child's perspective, and a decrease in harsh parenting and violence to the child after the programme. Participants' educational level did not moderate the results. Qualitative data provide insight into perceived programme benefits for fathers and their children as well as suggestions for programme improvement.