Publication year
2009
Citation Title
Promoting fathers' engagement with children: Preventive interventions for low-income families.
Journal Name
Journal of Marriage and Family
Journal Volume
71
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
663-679
DOI
10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00625.x
Summary
Fathers' engagement with children is crucial for children's optimal development. By randomly assigning 289 low-income families into the father-only intervention group, the couples' intervention group, or the control group, the study examined the effectiveness of a parenting education program on family relationships and child outcomes. Results revealed that the interventions were helpful for increasing family well-being.
Key Findings
Compared with the control group, families in the intervention groups showed more fathers' involvement with children, improved couple relationships, and fewer child problem behaviors.
Participants in the couples' group showed more improvements than participants in the father-only group.
The intervention effects were similar for families regardless of race/ethnicity, family structures, or family incomes.
Implications for Military Professionals
Educate military fathers about parenting practices that could increase the quality of father-child relationships
Support military fathers who are facing deployment by offering them strategies that would help them stay connected with their spouses and children
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer support groups for military fathers where they can communicate and support each other
Develop workshops for military fathers to increase their parenting skills and marital satisfaction
Implications for Policy Makers
Raise awareness of the importance of fathers' engagement and father-child relationships for children's development
Recommend military fathers to increase their involvement with children by spending more time with children, and learning parenting skills
Methods
Participants were recruited through direct referrals from county service agencies, talks at community meetings, ads in local media, and information tables.
The couples were randomly assigned to three conditions: a 16-week group for fathers (N = 96), a 16-week group for couples (N = 95), and a control condition (N = 98).
All participants were assessed at baseline, seven months, and 18 months after the start of the study; the retention rate was 78%.
Assessments included father-child relationships, parenting stress, parenting style, couple relationships, and children's behavioral problems reported by each parent.
Participants
Participants were 289 couples with low income.
The number of children from the participating families ranged from 0 (mother was pregnant with the first child) to 7, and the median age of the youngest child was 2.25 years; the average ages of the parents were not indicated.
The majority of the participants were Latino (67%), followed by White (27%) and other (6%).
Limitations
According to the authors, significantly more participants with initially higher distress at baseline dropped out of the study, therefore the results may be subject to selection bias caused by attrition.
All measures were solely based on parent reports, so the results may be biased by parents' perspectives.
The majority of the participants were Latino and White, so the race/ethnicity composition of the sample is difference from the composition of the general American population.
Avenues for Future Research
Measure father-child relationships by observing them interacting in natural environments
Increase the diversity of the participants by recruiting from a broader race/ethnicity background
Examine the long-term effect, beyond 18 months, of the intervention program
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Few programs to enhance fathers' engagement with children have been systematically evaluated, especially for low-income minority populations. In this study, 289 couples from primarily low-income Mexican American and European American families were randomly assigned to one of three conditions and followed for 18 months: 16-week groups for fathers, 16-week groups for couples, or a 1-time informational meeting. Compared with families in the low-dose comparison condition, intervention families showed positive effects on fathers' engagement with their children, couple relationship quality, and children's problem behaviors. Participants in couples' groups showed more consistent, longer term positive effects than those in fathers-only groups. Intervention effects were similar across family structures, income levels, and ethnicities. Implications of the results for current family policy debates are discussed.
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