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Father Involvement in Infancy: Influences of Past and Current Relationships

Jacqueline D Shannon1, Catherine S Tamis-LeMonda1, Allan Margolin2

  • 1Department of Applied Psychology New York University.

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
|January 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This study found that positive childhood experiences with fathers and supportive demographic factors, such as stable housing and education, uniquely predicted responsive father-infant interactions in diverse urban men. Partner relationships did not influence fathering behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Father-infant interactions are crucial for child development.
  • Research on fathering often overlooks minority and low-income populations.
  • Understanding factors influencing fathering behaviors is essential for supporting families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between men's childhood experiences, partner relationships, demographic factors, and father-infant interactions.
  • To investigate predictors of responsive-didactic and negative-overbearing fathering behaviors.
  • To broaden the conceptualization of father-infant relationships in diverse urban men.

Main Methods:

  • 60 racially and ethnically diverse, inner-city men and their 6- to 11-month-old infants participated.
  • Father-infant interactions were videotaped during free play in homes.
  • Interaction quality was assessed via Likert ratings of responsive-didactic and negative-overbearing behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Men displayed significantly more responsive-didactic than negative-overbearing behaviors.
  • Protective demographic factors (stable housing, marriage, education, income) and childhood paternal acceptance predicted responsive-didactic behaviors.
  • Men's partner relationships were strong but not associated with fathering behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood paternal experiences and supportive demographics are key predictors of positive fathering in diverse urban men.
  • Fathering behaviors are influenced by a complex interplay of personal history and socioeconomic factors.
  • Future research should continue to explore fathering in underrepresented populations using observational methods.

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