Factors influencing quality of father involvement in family relationships among U.S. immigrants Yasemin Cava-Tadik & Geoffrey L. Brown Department of Human Development and Family Science University of Georgia

Background Information Limited knowledge about fathers’ involvement in immigrant families Fatherhood differs according to socio-cultural background, present social conditions and a father’s childhood experiences with his own father (Lamb, 2000). Although, previous studies mostly focus on fathers’ involvement in mainstream society, there is limited knowledge about fathers’ involvement in immigrant families,

Theoretical Perspective Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System  Theory This theory allows us to recognize the quality of father involvement depending on immigrants’ interactions with their environments across lifespans.

Research Aims Identify systematic factors influencing the quality of paternal involvement and family relationships. Combine general issues among immigrant families to pursue a more comprehensive picture.

Conceptual Model

Literature Review Individual factors: father involvement Age Educational status Number of children Gender role ideology Socio economic status (SES) Acculturation younger fathers tend to be more involved than older fathers fathers with higher education show more involvement Traditional VS. Egalitarian. because the acculturation process helps immigrant fathers to engage in various types of fathering Sources: Juhari et al., 2013; Lamb, 2000

Conceptual Model

STRESSORS Financial strain Being undocumented Lack of social/emotional support Language barrier/ cultural differences Work-family conflict/long work hours/job status Acculturation stress Economic hardship is link to poor mental health outcomes, such as depression  When immigrants leave their country, they also lave their relatives and friends These stressors Negatively affect family relationships and cause risk behaviors especially for children In this process immigrants face the assimilation problems because of different culture and lifestyle. while they try to r socialize Sources: Capps, Bronte-Tinkew et al., 2006; Crowley, Lichter, & Qian, 2006

Conceptual Model

Father involvement and family relationships Good marital relationship increases parental engagement that directly or indirectly impact marital quality Common sociodemographic characteristics, traits, and values Different cultural values Working hours Gender role ideology it increases couples’ relationship harmony causes a family conflict, marital instability, and intergenerational dissonance 3. predict the relation between father involvement and marital satisfaction    For Example, Mothers' increased working have a more positive effect on the fathers’ role, and couples' marital satisfaction Sources: Lee & Doherty, 2007 ; Hojat et al., 2000; Liu et al., 2014

Parent-child relationship Economic difficulties & difficulties with cultural adjustment Protecting original culture and values Parental support and advice to adapt to a new cultural environment Regular cultural family activities Are main impact factor for parent-child relationships and responsibility is crucial for some immigrant parents. specifically, fathers have an important leadership impact on households and parenting styles in traditional families when they are adjusting to a new environment. such as eating meals together and attending joint activities on the weekends Sources: Hofferth, 2003; Qin, 2009; Mehrotra and Calasanti, 2010

Conceptual Model We believe that some implications will be so helpful to decrease stressors and increase the father involvement and positive family relationships.

Discussion Counseling Multicultural counseling and counselors` training about father involvement Policy Changes Policies that support immigrant fathers’ participation in the family and educational contexts (parental leave, intentional school programs, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fathers group, leadership opportunities) Father involvement education to improve family relationships, child development and health How fathers can manage the stress to  improve their effectiveness. How family relationship changes with father involvement. What is the father's role in child development and how fathers can use this information. 2. We suggest some policy changes to support 3. We thought that if the immigrant fathers were informed about

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