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Father involvement and children's functioning at age 6 years: a multisite study
H Dubowitz1, M M Black, C E Cox
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA. hdubowitz@peds.umaryland.edu
Child Maltreatment
|October 26, 2001
Summary
Father presence and support are linked to better child development and well-being. Positive father involvement enhances children's cognitive skills, social competence, and reduces depressive symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Paternal involvement is increasingly recognized for its positive impact on child development.
- Previous research indicates a correlation between father engagement and improved child outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between father presence and child functioning.
- To examine the role of perceived father support in child development.
- To explore potential moderating effects of child's gender, race, and relationship to the father figure.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 855 six-year-old children and their caregivers.
- Data collected on father presence, perceived father support, and child functioning indicators.
- Statistical analyses used to assess associations and moderating factors.
Main Results:
- Father presence correlated with enhanced cognitive development and perceived competence.
- Higher perceived father support was linked to greater social competence and fewer depressive symptoms in children with a father figure.
- No significant moderation found based on child's gender, race, or relationship to the father figure.
Conclusions:
- Father presence and perceived support are valuable contributors to positive child functioning.
- Findings underscore the importance of paternal engagement for children's cognitive, social, and emotional well-being.
- Future research should explore motivations for paternal involvement and strategies to promote it.
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