NEW FATHER'S EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR OWN FATHERS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD FATHERING

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Developmental Psychology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Understanding how men's own father experiences shape their attitudes toward fathering is crucial for supporting positive parenting.
• Previous research has explored various factors influencing paternal involvement, but the specific impact of early father figures on later fathering attitudes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• This study examines the association between the type and presence of a father figure during a man's upbringing and his attitudes toward his own role as a new father.
• It specifically tests the modeling and compensatory hypotheses regarding the intergenerational transmission of fathering attitudes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes data from the baseline father sample (n=3,525) of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey.
• Analyzes the relationship between men's perceptions of their biological father's involvement and the presence of a coresidential father or father figure during their childhood and their current attitudes toward fathering.

Main Results:

• Results largely support the modeling hypothesis: men with less involved fathers are less likely to view fathers as authority figures.
• Lack of a coresidential father or father figure, coupled with low biological father involvement, is associated with reduced agreement on fathers' roles in financial support and direct care.
• Weak support for the compensatory hypothesis was found, indicating men with a father figure reported more favorable global fatherhood attitudes.

Conclusions:

• A man's own father experiences, particularly the level of involvement and presence of a father figure, significantly shape his attitudes toward fathering.
• These findings highlight the importance of positive paternal role models in fostering supportive and engaged fathering in the next generation.