1
|
Wells MB, Giannotti M, Aronson O. Partner and professional support are associated with father-infant bonding: A cross-sectional analysis of mothers, midwives, and child health nurses' influence on primiparous and multiparous fathers of infants in Sweden. Midwifery 2024; 136:104076. [PMID: 38941781 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess if received professional and social support are associated with father-infant bonding among primiparous (first-time) and multiparous (multi-time) fathers. BACKGROUND Early father-infant bonding predicts several positive child outcomes. However, while received professional and social support positively impacts fathers' transition into parenthood, little research has tested if these factors are associated with a stronger father-infant bond. METHODS In total, 499 fathers (296 primiparous and 203 multiparous) of infants (aged 0-12 months) completed a cross-sectional online survey between November 2018 and March 2020. The survey included items related to socio-demographics, having a planned pregnancy, postnatal midwifery support, child health nurse support, child health center attendance, and social support. The parent-infant bonding questionnaire (PBQ) was used to assess the father-infant bond. Multiple linear regression models were estimated for the total sample and based on paternal parity. Missing data were managed through multiple imputation procedures. FINDINGS Fathers reported fewer bonding disturbances if they received support from their partners, postnatal midwives, child health nurses, and attended more child health visits. Primiparous fathers reported fewer bonding disturbances when receiving support from their partners, postnatal midwives, and the child health nurse. However, multiparous fathers had more bonding disturbances than primiparous fathers and received less professional and partner support. CONCLUSIONS Receiving more partner and professional support is associated with less father-infant bonding disturbances. To encourage a better father-infant bond, clinicians should invite and support all fathers, regardless of parity, as they transition to parenthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Wells
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Michele Giannotti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Olov Aronson
- Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marziali ME, Prins SJ, Gutkind S, Martins SS. Partner incarceration, maternal substance use, and the mediating role of social support: A longitudinal analysis using the future of families and child wellbeing study. Soc Sci Med 2024; 349:116896. [PMID: 38653185 PMCID: PMC11097120 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The United States is responsible for the highest incarceration rate globally. This study aimed to explore the impact of partner incarceration on maternal substance use and whether social support mediates the relationship between partner incarceration and maternal substance use. METHODS Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal cohort following new parents and children, this analysis quantifies the relationship between paternal incarceration and maternal substance use (N = 2823). We analyzed maternal responses in years 3 (2001-2003), 5 (2003-2006), 9 (2007-2010), and 15 (2014-2017). We explored the role of financial support and emergency social support as potential mediators. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to construct support-related mediators. We modeled the impact of partner incarceration and maternal substance use using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for repeated measures, adjusting for appropriate confounders (age of mother at child's birth, race, education, employment, and history of intimate partner violence). RESULTS Nearly half (44.2%, N = 1247) of participants reported partner incarceration. Among mothers who experienced partner incarceration, the odds of reporting substance use were 110% greater than those who reported no partner incarceration (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 2.10; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.67-2.63). Financial support at year 5 accounted for 19.5% (95% CI: 6.03-33.06%) of the association between partner incarceration at year 3 and substance use at year 9; emergency social support at year 5 accounted for 6.4% (95% CI: 0.51-12.25%) of the association between partner incarceration and substance use at year 9. Neither financial nor emergency social support at year 9 were significant mediators between partner incarceration at year 3 and substance use at year 15. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that partner incarceration impacts maternal substance use. Financial and emergency support may partially mediate this relationship in the short term, which has important implications for families disrupted by mass incarceration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Marziali
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Seth J Prins
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Sarah Gutkind
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Copeland DB, Harbaugh BL, Sams-Abiodun P, de Montigny F. Perceptions of Urban Father Support in Early Parenthood: A Critical Incident Analysis. Compr Child Adolesc Nurs 2023; 46:320-347. [PMID: 37698496 DOI: 10.1080/24694193.2023.2250448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Becoming a father is a common transitional event, however men are often not adequately prepared for their fathering role. The United States (U.S.) health care system does little to support fathers' parenting needs during the postnatal and infancy period. Moreover, father's support needs are often perceived as secondary to the mother's needs in the maternal-child system. It is important that fathers' social support needs be investigated in the first year of his newborn's life, especially in diverse populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the social support needs of urban, African American fathers during early parenthood. Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), a descriptive, qualitative design was used to interview 35 fathers about their social support at 2-12 months after the birth of their baby. Using a semi-structured interview guide, fathers were asked to describe helpful and unhelpful events they experienced since the birth of their baby. Fathers reported 36 helpful events and 32 unhelpful events for an overall total of 68 events. Data was analyzed using House's Social Support Theory and the four social support categories: instrumental, informational, emotional, and appraisal. Using the CIT, main categories and subcategories were developed. The helpful categories included: 1) Helping father with infant care, 2) Providing information on infant care, 3) Receiving HCP assistance, 4) Managing relationships, and 5) Becoming a father. The unhelpful categories included: 1) Receiving unhelpful assistance, 2) Receiving unreliable or unwanted assistance, 3) Offering bad advice, 4) Conflicting relationships, 5) Conflicts with friends, 6) Unsatisfying HCP experience, and 7) Receiving no support from family/organizations. The results of the study validated House's Social Support Theory and served as an excellent framework for exploring social support needs in fathers. More research needs to be conducted on the social support needs of fathers during the first year of their infants' lives, especially with experienced African American fathers and nonresidential fathers, and how health care professionals (HCPs), specifically postnatal and child health nurses, can better support fathers during the infancy period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debra Beach Copeland
- School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Bonnie Lee Harbaugh
- School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Petrice Sams-Abiodun
- School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice, Community Researcher, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Francine de Montigny
- School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice, University of Quebec at Outaouais, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
McBride M, Cooper SM, Cryer-Coupet Q, Burnett M, Garrett S, Gibson S. Multidimensional social support and parenting among Black fathers: A profile-oriented approach. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:1876-1900. [PMID: 36480656 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Though studies have examined the role of social support in the lives of Black men, less is known about the role and function of multi-domain social support as they navigate fatherhood. This investigation utilizes a profile-oriented approach to identify patterns of general and parenting-specific social support (i.e., family; peers; community) among a sample of 759 Black American fathers. Additionally, this study examines how identified support profiles are associated with Black fathers' parenting outcomes (i.e., stress, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and involvement). Latent class analyses identified 10 distinct social support profiles among Black fathers. Results also indicated that there was some profile variation in levels parenting outcomes. Findings suggest variation in the availability and utilization of general and parenting support among Black fathers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarett McBride
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shauna M Cooper
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Marketa Burnett
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Shedrick Garrett
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephen Gibson
- Psychology Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gold S, Wagner B. Acute care utilization and housing hardships in American children. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 2022; 136:106447. [PMID: 35342214 PMCID: PMC8955135 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Millions of families in the United States are economically vulnerable: one shock can lead to hardship. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the association between acute healthcare utilization - emergency room visits or hospitalizations - and subsequent housing hardships, such as being evicted for financial reasons. Further, we explore whether this association differs by who in the family utilized the care and whether perceived social support protects against hardship when these experiences occur. Using lagged dependent variable regression models, we find that families that visited the emergency room or were hospitalized, regardless if it was a child or parent with this experience, were five percentage points more likely to experience any housing hardship than families that did not use acute care. Among families in which a child utilized acute care, perceived social support buffered the impact of using acute care. That perceived social support is associated with a lower likelihood of housing hardship among families that experienced acute care utilization for a child, but not parent, suggests that social support may be able to offset the challenges arising from children's, but not adults', use of acute care. In the face of economic precarity, informal safety nets may be insufficient to reduce the impact of acute care utilization on housing hardships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gold
- Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Brandon Wagner
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Tech University, 63 Holden Hall, Lubbock, TX 79409
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Recruitment, Retention, and Intervention Outcomes from the Dedicated African American Dad (DAAD) Study. J Urban Health 2021; 98:133-148. [PMID: 34196905 PMCID: PMC8501171 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-021-00549-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A significant proportion of African American (AA) fathers live in households apart from their young children. This living arrangement can have detrimental effects for children, families, and fathers. One hundred seventy-eight (n = 178) AA fathers, not residing with their 2-6-year-old children, were enrolled in a randomized trial to test the Building Bridges to Fatherhood (BBTF) program against a financial literacy comparison condition. BBTF is an intervention that was developed collaboratively with a fathers' advisory council of AA fathers who oversaw all aspects of program development. Based upon advisory council feedback, short video scenes captured fathers interacting with their children, their children's mothers, and other fathers. These video scenes were used to jump start the discussion around fatherhood, parenting, communication, and problem solving during the intervention group meetings. The actors in the video scenes were recruited from the community. Two trained group leaders, using a standardized group leader manual, delivered the intervention. The Money Smart Financial Literacy Program (MSFLP), which served as the comparator, was also delivered by AA men. Program satisfaction was high in both conditions. Even so recruitment and retention challenges influenced the ability to detect father and child outcomes. This study informs the participation of vulnerable urban AA fathers in community-based fatherhood intervention research and provides insight into bolstering engagement in studies focused on this population.
Collapse
|
7
|
Custodial Single Fathers before and during the COVID-19 Crisis: Work, Care, and Well-Being. SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci10030094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
As both paid and unpaid work were disrupted during the COVID-19 crisis, the two roles that working custodial single fathers occupy—breadwinners and caregivers—have intensified significantly. Using two independent sets of interviews, this study examines how custodial single fathers navigated work and caregiving responsibilities prior to COVID-19 and compares them to the experiences of single fathers interviewed during the pandemic. The findings are organized into three key themes. First, men with white-collar jobs experienced less work-family conflict than men with blue-collar jobs. The COVID-19 crisis further widened this divide as lack of flexibility put men with blue-collar jobs in a precarious position in the labor market. Second, the way single fathers arranged childcare varied with the availability of extended family and the coparenting relationship with the child(ren)’s mother. The pandemic significantly complicated these arrangements by removing men’s access to extended family and intensifying already conflicted coparenting relationships. Finally, prior to the pandemic, many single fathers struggled with lack of leisure time and diminished social support networks that shrunk with their initial break from their child(ren)’s mother. The resulting feelings of fatigue and loneliness seeped into men’s psychological well-being. COVID-19 and related social distancing measures further exacerbated single fathers’ isolation.
Collapse
|
8
|
Garabiles M. Social support, well-being and involvement of fathers in transnational families in the Philippines. ASIAN AND PACIFIC MIGRATION JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/0117196820983760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated left-behind Filipino fathers and their involvement as child caregivers. It hypothesized that social support and well-being predict paternal involvement, with well-being as the mediator. Results showed that familial and peer support predicted involvement, with well-being as mediator. Spousal support did not predict involvement or well-being. Findings highlight the importance of familial and peer support to left-behind fathers. Interactions between significant predictors of involvement present novel pathways to childcare. The non-significant role of spousal support is discussed in the context of transnational migration. Several interventions involving families and peers are suggested.
Collapse
|
9
|
Neri Mini F, Saltzman JA, Simione M, Luo M, Perkins ME, Roche B, Blake-Lamb T, Kotelchuck M, Arauz-Boudreau A, Davison K, Taveras EM. Expectant Fathers' Social Determinants of Health in Early Pregnancy. Glob Pediatr Health 2020; 7:2333794X20975628. [PMID: 33294495 PMCID: PMC7705787 DOI: 10.1177/2333794x20975628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional, descriptive study examined unmet social and economic needs and health information requests of low-income, expecting fathers who participated in the First 1000 Days program. The First 1000 Days is a systems-level intervention aiming to prevent obesity among low-income mothers and infants across 3 community health centers in Greater Boston, MA, USA. Fathers who attended their partner's first prenatal care visit were invited to complete a program survey during early pregnancy. Among 131 fathers surveyed, 45% were white, 21% were Hispanic/Latino, 55% were foreign-born, and 69% reported an annual income under $50 000. Fathers reported elevated levels of food insecurity (18%) and 33% were unaware of someone that could provide a $50 loan; however, over 85% of fathers knew someone that could provide non-financial social support. Fathers requested information about pregnancy, birth preparation, and fatherhood. Findings support addressing fathers' unmet needs during pregnancy and providing father-specific perinatal information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn A. Saltzman
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meg Simione
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Man Luo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elsie M. Taveras
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Volling BL, Cabrera NJ, Feinberg ME, Jones DE, McDaniel BT, Liu S, Almeida D, Lee JK, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Feng X, Gerhardt ML, Dush CMK, Stevenson MM, Safyer P, Gonzalez R, Lee JY, Piskernik B, Ahnert L, Karberg E, Malin J, Kuhns C, Fagan J, Kaufman R, Dyer WJ, Parke RD, Cookston JT. Advancing Research and Measurement on Fathering and Child Development. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 2019; 84:7-160. [PMID: 31034620 DOI: 10.1111/mono.12404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Fathers are more than social accidents. Research has demonstrated that fathers matter to children's development. Despite noted progress, challenges remain on how best to conceptualize and assess fathering and father-child relationships. The current monograph is the result of an SRCD-sponsored meeting of fatherhood scholars brought together to discuss these challenges and make recommendations for best practices for incorporating fathers in studies on parenting and children's development. The first aim of this monograph was to provide a brief update on the current state of research on fathering and to lay out a developmental ecological systems perspective as a conceptual framework for understanding the different spaces fathers inhabit in their children's lives. Because there is wide variability in fathers' roles, the ecological systems perspective situates fathers, mothers, children, and other caregivers within an evolving network of interrelated social relationships in which children and their parents change over time and space (e.g., residence). The second aim was to present examples of empirical studies conducted by members of the international working group that highlighted different methods, data collection, and statistical analyses used to capture the variability in father-child relationships. The monograph ends with a commentary that elaborates on the ecological systems framework with a discussion of the broader macrosystem and social-contextual influences that impinge on fathers and their children. The collection of articles contributes to research on father-child relationships by advancing theory and presenting varied methods and analysis strategies that assist in understanding the father-child relationship and its impact on child development.
Collapse
|
11
|
Rogers TN, Rogers CR. Social Services Professionals' Views of Barriers to Supporting Homeless Noncustodial Fathers. FAMILY RELATIONS 2019; 68:39-50. [PMID: 30799889 PMCID: PMC6386457 DOI: 10.1111/fare.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate barriers to service for homeless non-custodial fathers from the perspective of social service professionals who work directly to assist men with securing housing while meeting the demands of fatherhood. BACKGROUND The population of homeless fathers in the United States is increasing. Longitudinal studies show that although homeless noncustodial fathers and mothers face similar risk factors and barriers to services, research on minimizing risk factors and barriers for noncustodial fathers is limited compared with that for noncustodial mothers. METHOD The sample included 7 administrators and 12 direct service professionals engaged with fathers transitioning from homelessness. Data were collected via face-to-face, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a qualitative inductive approach. Multiple cycle coding was employed to capture emerging themes. RESULTS Three major themes, encompassing emotional, relational, and systemic factors, emerged regarding participants' experiences serving homeless noncustodial fathers. CONCLUSION Effective approaches to supporting fathers require empathy, relationship building, and collaboration between service providers and policymakers. IMPLICATIONS Future policies and interventions should be based on input from direct service professionals and homeless noncustodial fathers themselves, with the aim of best supporting their efforts toward securing housing while meeting the demands of fatherhood.
Collapse
|
12
|
Charles P, Gorman-Smith D, Schoeny M, Sudec L, Tolan P, Henry D. Fathers' Criminal Behavior and Involvement With Children: The Moderating Role of Family Relationships. JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL WORK AND RESEARCH 2018; 9:131-157. [PMID: 30338029 PMCID: PMC6188635 DOI: 10.1086/695386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research indicates that fathers' criminal behavior can be problematic for children through multiple pathways, yet few studies have examined the effect of fathers' kinship networks in this process. This study examines the association between fathers' criminal behavior and involvement with their children and the extent to which a father's relationships with individuals in his extended family network moderate this association. METHOD Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict fathers' involvement using data from a longitudinal intergenerational study of 335 children and 149 low-income, minority fathers. Measures included 8 father-involvement outcomes, a measure of fathers' criminal behavior, and 2 moderator variables. RESULTS High-quality relationships between fathers and their male relatives moderated the negative effect of criminal behavior on measures of fathers' involvement. Criminal behavior was only associated with decreasing levels of father involvement when fathers had low-quality relationships with male relatives. CONCLUSIONS Strong and affirmative relationships-with male relatives specifically-may attenuate the adverse effects of antisocial and criminal behavior on fathers' involvement in at-risk families. Implications for tailoring practice to improve relationships between fathers and male relatives and to enhance fathers' prosocial involvement are noted.
Collapse
|
13
|
Yogman M, Garfield CF. Fathers' Roles in the Care and Development of Their Children: The Role of Pediatricians. Pediatrics 2016; 138:peds.2016-1128. [PMID: 27296867 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-1128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fathers' involvement in and influence on the health and development of their children have increased in a myriad of ways in the past 10 years and have been widely studied. The role of pediatricians in working with fathers has correspondingly increased in importance. This report reviews new studies of the epidemiology of father involvement, including nonresidential as well as residential fathers. The effects of father involvement on child outcomes are discussed within each phase of a child's development. Particular emphasis is placed on (1) fathers' involvement across childhood ages and (2) the influence of fathers' physical and mental health on their children. Implications and advice for all child health providers to encourage and support father involvement are outlined.
Collapse
|
14
|
Lesch E, de Jager N. Positive and negative qualities of South African adolescents' parent and peer relationships. J Child Adolesc Ment Health 2014; 26:1-14. [PMID: 25391567 DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2013.825620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Parent and peer relationships are important social resources for adolescents. South African research on adolescents' relationships, however, underemphasises these relationships as potential positive resources. Studies also tend to use samples from urban populations, while rural and semi-rural adolescent populations are neglected. This study focused on White and Coloured adolescents living in one South African semi-rural community and their ratings of positive and negative relationship qualities in relationships with parents and peers. Using the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), we found that mothers, best friends and romantic partners were relatively equal sources of social support. Mothers' high ratings for support, conflict and punishment may point to mothers bearing the primary responsibility for child care. Fathers' low support ratings raise concern as father involvement is important for adolescents' well-being. White participants overall rated their relationship higher for support and lower for negative qualities than the Coloured participants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elmien Lesch
- a Department of Psychology , Stellenbosch University , PB X1, Matieland , 7602 , South Africa
| | | |
Collapse
|