The Presence of Fathers & Children’s Well-Being. Hanna Fournell-Ferrall

Question: How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty?

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #1: The presence of fathers in relation to child development has been largely understudied. “The ways in which parents influence children’s development has a long research tradition but most of the data is based on mothers or on parents as a single dimension” (Harris and Marmer 615-616). Often research cast the role of fathers as undefined or secondary to that of the mother’s, or as a supplementary factor in child development, as opposed to its own unique influence. “Such a presence–absence paradigm often focused on the amount of time fathers spent with children rather than examining the quality of their interactions or identifying unique characteristics of fathering” (Bockneck et al 390). The ways father-child relationships have traditionally been studied are one-dimensional, and haven’t offered the same depth of study into types of interaction or uniquely paternal influences, as have been studied in mother-child relationships.

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #2: The presence of a father in a child’s life provides unique contributions. “Early research stressing differences between parents noted that fathers are more likely to tease their children, engage in rough- and-tumble play, encourage risk taking and socialize gender roles, prohibit their infants' activities, and be less engaged and sensitive” (Bradley et al 337). Active fathers in two-parent systems tend to interact with their children differently than active mothers, and thus introduce specific qualities that are reinforced in their children. “School-aged and adolescent children show better academic achievement and school adjustment, more positive self -concept, and more healthy personality adjustment when relationships with fathers are positive” (Brotherson et al 194). Multiple aspects of a child’s development, especially in areas of academic performance are enhanced by the presence of a father.

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #3: Many factors affect the nature of the father-child relationships (FCR). “Mothers' characteristics (e.g., employment, age, education, fertility, health, mental health) and children's characteristics (e.g., age, gender, temperament, disabilities) are hypothesized to influence father involvement” (Bradley et al 345). How fathers function in FCRs is affected by the characteristics of the mother and children; these factors can aggravate or stress the level of involvement, especially if they conflict with characteristics of the father. “In particular, father’s education and the child’s gender, race, and age are related to variations in affective and behavioral dimensions of father involvement” (Harris and Marmer 617). Characteristics of the father influence ideas of parenting and the role of the father, as well as their ability to contribute themselves to FCRs; characteristics of the child can influence how fathers interact with them.

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #3 (continued): Many factors affect the nature of the father-child relationships (FCR). “Although gender socialization theory suggests that fathers would play a greater role in the lives of sons than of daughters, child gender may affect only the level of involvement but not the consequences of involvement when it does occur” (Carlson 150). The presence of fathers is beneficial to both genders, even if the nature of the relationship is different among genders because of socialized gender roles.

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #4: The level of involvement among ‘present’ fathers affects the strength of the FCR. “A close father–child relationship requires fathers to spend more than a small amount of time interacting with their children, in order to develop sensitivity to their characteristics and their needs, and to learn skills and confidence in parenting” (Wilson and Prior 405). In order to develop a strong father-child relationship, fathers have to take an active and independent role in their interactions with their children; that time has to be deliberate and considerate, and for the development of a specific father-child relationship, independent of time and care shared with the mother. “The mere frequency of contact/visitation by nonresident fathers does not appear to affect child well-being, but several recent studies suggest that high-quality involvement by nonresident fathers does have positive effects , including diminishing children's internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems” (Carlson 139). Even in cases of nonresident fathers, it is not the time spent with the father specifically that affects children, it is the quality and nature of the interaction.

How does the relationship between a father and child affect the child’s well-being? In what ways does the presence of a father affect the child’s development? How are these effects presented in areas of poverty? Sub-claim #4 (continued): The level and type of involvement among ‘present’ fathers affects the strength of the FCR. “It also fits with Pleck's (1997) concept of "positive paternal involvement" and the worth of paternal engagement with children in a variety of activities. These results support research that suggests fathers' generative activities with children in a variety of contexts, including work, play, recreation, and teaching or learning, are central aspects of fathers' connection with children” (Brotherson et al 207). The nature of father-child interaction is important to the strengthening of the relationship; the more areas a father involves themselves in, the more developed the effects on of the interaction on the child.

What next? Find more research specific to FCR’s in poverty, and begin to develop those sub-claims Synthesize sources and information to be used for the introductory element of the paper Possibly split Sub-claim #4, about levels of involvement, into the specific aspects of involvement (quality, quantity, nature of involvement, etc)

Bibliography Wilson, Katherine R. and Margot R. Prior. “Father Involvement and Child Well-Being.” Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, vol. 47, no. 7, July 2011, pp. 405-407. EBSCOhost, doi:1111/j.1440-1753.2010.01770.x. Harris, Kathleen Mullan, and Marmer, Jeremy K. "Poverty, Paternal Involvement, and Adolescent Well- Being." Journal of Family Issues 17.5 (1996): 614-40. Web Bradley, Robert H. et al. “The Ecology of Father-Child Relationships: An Extended Model.” Journal of Family Theory & Review. 6. Dec 2014. 336-354. Bocknek, E. L., Hossain, Z. and Roggman, L. (2014), FORWARD PROGRESS OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY INTO THE EARLY FATHER–CHILD RELATIONSHIP: INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE ON VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FATHERS. Infant Ment. Health J., 35: 389–393. doi:10.1002/imhj.21475 Carlson, Marcia J. "Family Structure, Father Involvement, and Adolescent Behavioral Outcomes." Journal of Marriage & Family, vol. 68, no. 1, Feb. 2006, pp. 137-154. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00239.x. Brotherson, Sean E., Takashi Yamamoto, and Alan C. Acock. "Connection and Communication in Father-Child Relationships and Adolescent Child Well-being." Fathering 1.3 (2003): 191-214. ProQuest. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.