HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide The Role of the Father in Child Development Why study father involvement How do we Theoretical framework of father involvement o An ecological Brofenbrenner approach o Direct vs Indirect systems framework o Descriptive results What is the role of the father Predictors of and barriers to father involvement Consequences of father un involvement Promoting positive father involvement Why study father involvement 1970 s Doubt as to importance of fathers Didn t really study them Thought they just provided food 1990 s No more doubt as to their importance Realize they do have a role How do we study father involvement Quantitative reports mom dad Survey Time diary record everything they do How much time spent with kids Qualitative observations and interviewing Absolute Time spent with kids alone versus relative involvement HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide Theoretical framework of father involvement Engagement direct interaction caretaking play and affective component Not smoking and unengaged while playing with kid Accessibility availability potential for interaction Responsibility resources for the child Can provide for kids Can take to doctor when they re sick Descriptive Results in general Fathers spend less time with children than mothers all 3 domains Father involvement has increased over time all 3 domains Fathers are more likely to be involved in dual earner households than father earner only households What is the role of the father colonial times all powerful patriarch but fully involved industrial times breadwinner sexual revolution nurturing father today multidimensional father like moms today Do fathers parent differently Domain specific interactions with children Play caretaking What makes a dad a deadbeat dad Unemployed not paying child support Disciplinarian both parents have potential to discipline What about a father primary caregiver They do most to take care of kid Direct vs Indirect systems framework Direct effects HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide Father child interactions Playing communicating Indirect effects Co parenting Economic support Marital satisfaction Psychological factors Child s characteristics Social support Parents feel the others support Predictors of and barriers to father involvement Marital support satisfaction Community cultural influences Institutional practices and public policies welfare child support Individualistic Factors Dad factors His motivation Am I motivated to be a father Efficacy Am I ready to be a dad Can I do it Depressive symptoms no availability too wrapped up in their depression Modeling or compensation own father s involvement Attitudes about masculinity Child factors Gender might be more involved with a son rather than a daughter Biological relationship to father stepchild biological adopted will become fixated on current partner s child Temperament Social Support Maternal gatekeeping Not a good marriage so mom just doesn t want the father in the child s life HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide Father child relationships contingent on this Poor co parenting marital relationship Mother s view of father involvement Father involvement was okay the way it was mom okay with him being a breadwinner Men s social networks provide less encouragement or resources for parenting Mothers will get social support outside of marriage Broader social context Community and culture Institutional Practices Paternity Leave Ideas about what constitutes a good father depends on culture and media Paid or unpaid dad has to make a choice if unpaid Whether or not they can be more or less involved in child s life How long Repercussions Flextime Can I work from home Can I go in on the weekends Child care availability Workplace culture Consequences of father un involvement Quantity vs Quality High quality is more important than time spent Father absence Lack of co parent Conflict with the mother Child feelings of abandonment Lower household income increased maternal stress HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide Empathy Less sex stereotyped beliefs Internal locus of control POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT Cognitive competence Warmth closeness Paternal monitoring Father infant attachment Take away messages The role of the father has changed over time from being a dominant force in the family to a provider to a multidimensional approach that is similar to what is expected of mothers It is important to examine father involvement in context That is in relation to mother involvement and as domain specific There are many reason why fathers choose or choose not to be involved in their child s life including inter e g depression and intra personal e g poor relationship with the mother characteristics child characteristics e g difficult temperament and societal restraints e g no paternal leave Father involvement is related to a host of child outcomes and like mothers this relationship changes based on the quality of the father child interactions More involvement does not necessarily mean better child outcomes HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide The Filter Theory of Mate Selection Pool of all possible dating partners descending order 1 Propinquity geographically close At some point you have to live near each other Can meet online but end up living together Matchmaking websites lower rate of divorce Social media 2 Attractiveness 3 Social Background 4 Consensus Some level of attractiveness seen most often Similar religion social class education level etc Do we agree on issues What do we value How men should treat women Should we have children 5 Complementary just feels right You want to be a better person because of them 6 Readiness ready to marry If ones person isn t ready it could be an issue Diversity of Adult Lifestyles Living single Cohabitation Gay lesbian unions GOING SOLO Eric Klinenberg Prof of Sociology 1950 22 of adults 21 64 yrs Old were single Accounted for 9 of households 2012 50 of adults are single Accounts for 28 of households HDFS 129 Final Exam Study Guide Advantages of living alone Pursue one s own schedule Make decisions independently Privacy and solitude Adults living alone are primarily women 55 Living alone on the rise WHY Sexual freedom Technology Longer lifespan Less desire to have kids COHABITATION Working class cohabiters Combined income 38 971 Middle class cohabiters Combined income 67 672 Serial cohabiters Don t look for marriage Results Working class Differences in why we cohabit and when we cohabit are associated with different outcomes