A cross-sectional study to identify the perception of children regarding paternal involvement in child rearing

Child rearing is a generic term that refers to the upbringing of children by providing them with food, shelter, and clothing and encircled with socialization, shaping their personality, character, talents, cultural and moral values as well as their physical and emotional well-being. Research studies in India indicate that fathers are participating in children's lives in many ways, and are far from being uninvolved.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among school-going children aged between 11-15 years at a selected school, Mangaluru in January 2022. Ninety-six study participants were recruited using a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-structured four-point Likert scale under six domains. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The study results revealed that 84.6% had poor perception and 16.4% had good perception regarding paternal involvement in child-rearing. There was a significant association found between the educational status of the father and the type of family with perception score, at P < 0.05 level of significance.

This study concluded that, even though fathers are more contributing, the children of the newer generation could not understand their father's involvement in their lives.