The Involvement of Fathers with Their Deaf Children

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to examine fathers’ involvement with their deaf children, and to compare it with the involvement of fathers of children with other disabilities and of typical children. A sample of 172 fathers of preschool-aged children participated in the study. Of these, 25 had deaf children, 23 had children with intellectual disability, 30 had children with autism spectrum disorder and 94 had children without disabilities. Fathers completed questionnaires measuring childcare involvement, beliefs concerning parental role, parental stress, marital satisfaction and social support. Results revealed no differences in the overall level of childcare involvement between fathers of deaf children and fathers of the other groups. Fathers of deaf children experienced less stress than fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder or children with intellectual disability, but more stress when compared to fathers of children without disabilities. Marital satisfaction was found to be the factor that most influences fathers’ involvement with their deaf children.