Involvement In Childcare Research Articles

Dutch Maternity Care Providers’ Attitudes Toward and Support of Young Fathers: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

BackgroundGiven their often-vulnerable circumstances, young fathers’ childcare involvement is precarious. Despite the potential benefits of receiving professional support, young fathers experience exclusion or suboptimal support in maternity care. Insights into maternity care providers’ attitudes toward young fathers and their perspectives on the support they provide to this group are, however, lacking. Such insights could be helpful to better align support with young fathers’ needs. AimThe study objectives were to examine maternity care providers’ attitudes toward young fathers and their perspectives on the support they provide to them, assess relationships between the two and investigate differences between and within occupational groups. MethodAn online survey study was conducted with 183 Dutch midwives and maternity nurses. FindingsMaternity care providers reported positive attitudes and high levels of support. They indicated that they provide mainly affirmative support, followed by emotional, informational, and instrumental support. All forms of support correlated significantly with positive attitudes. Maternity nurses had higher positive attitude and support scores than did midwives, with the largest difference observed for instrumental support. ConclusionMaternity care providers reported positive attitudes and high levels of support provided to young fathers, which stands in contrast with the father's experience of support. This difference suggests that having positive attitudes and the intention to deliver high levels of support are not by definition sufficient to meet young fathers’ support needs. Attention should also be paid to the forms and manners of support provided.

Utilization of paternity and parental leave in Italy: the parents’ perspective

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been a focus on the role of fathers in childcare within public debates and social policies. Maternity, paternity, and parental leaves are essential tools for active father involvement in family life. The study aims to describe the fathers and mothers’ perspective about the use of two types of leave (paternity and parental) by fathers. Methods As part of the European project 4E (Early, Equal, Engaged, Empathetic) PARENT (CERV-2022-DAPHNE No. 101095956), a cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire addressed to parents between August and December 2023. Results A total of 3,811 mothers and 720 fathers participated. Sixty percent of mothers and 57% of fathers came from the North, with the majority having a high level of education (74% and 58%, respectively). Seventy-three percent of fathers reported using paternity leave, with most cases from the public welfare system (59%). Overall, most of mothers (91%) and fathers (89%) do not consider the current duration of leave adequate nor do they agree with the traditional division of family roles. Additionally, 69% of mothers and 72% of fathers believe that fathers should have more leave, but also that mothers need more months for breastfeeding. The logistic model shows that for fathers: low education level (ORadj 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.86), living in the Center (ORadj 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.87) and Southern Italy (ORadj 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.64), and acceptance of traditional family role division (ORadj 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.65) reduce the likelihood of using paternity leave. Similar results were observed in case of mothers’ responses. Furthermore, living in Southern Italy reduces the likelihood of using parental leave for both fathers (ORadj 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.69) and mothers (ORadj 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.92). Key messages • Maternity, paternity, and parental leaves are crucial for facilitating active father participation in family life. • It is important to implement inclusive policies that ensure equitable access to paternity and parental leave, thereby promoting active father involvement in childcare.

Time Unmasked: Illuminating the Hidden Dimensions of Economic Stratification during COVID-19 in the United States

This paper delves into the nuanced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on time use activities in the United States, particularly examining gender and parental status differences. Drawing on data from the 2018–2022 American Time Use Survey, the study analyzes trends in six distinct time use categories: unpaid care work, leisure, employed activities, personal care, childcare, and household activities. The research sheds light on the evolving dynamics within households during the pandemic, emphasizing the potential implications for economic stratification and societal well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic completely disrupted established time use patterns, forcing a reconsideration of ‘traditional’ gender roles and caregiving responsibilities in certain countries. While early studies hinted at a temporary shift toward more equitable distribution of household activities, particularly childcare, this paper scrutinizes these trends over a more extended period. Despite the short-lived increases in fathers’ involvement in childcare during the pandemic, the study finds that the caregiving burden remained disproportionately on mothers and women. Notably, the analysis reveals persistent gender disparities in unpaid care work, with women and mothers spending a disproportionate amount of time on household activities, housework, and caring for children. This unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities limits a women’s ability to engage in paid work activities, contributing to economic stratification and constraining their financial resources. While some activities demonstrated slight reductions in gender gaps, the overall picture suggests that the pandemic may not bring about lasting changes in how time is allocated within households.

Work–Family Conflict Influences Mothers’ Perception of Father Involvement with Childcare: A Dyadic Approach

ABSTRACT Families with dual-earner parents have been increasing in recent decades, a trend that contributes to father involvement. Because both mothers and fathers face the challenge of conciliating their own and their partners’ work, as well as their parental obligations, work – family conflict (WFC) may emerge. This study aims to examine how parents’ WFC influences the perception of father involvement in childcare and explore the mediating role of coparenting among Portuguese parents using a dyadic approach. Working mothers and fathers (N = 268) of a child aged 2–6 years-old (M age = 4.82; SD = 1.51; 53.1% boys) reported on WFC, coparenting, and father involvement. Significant actor effects were found for mothers’ WFC and their perception of greater father involvement in direct care activities. A crossover effect uncovered how fathers’ WFC influences mothers’ perceptions of fathers’ involvement in their child’s direct care through cooperative coparenting. The findings underscore how WFC is transferred from work to the family, highlighting the importance of policies targeting work environments to better conciliate professional and parental roles.

Father Support, Postpartum Depression, and Breastfeeding Weaning Time: A Structural Equation Model

Background: Fathers play a crucial role in family well-being beyond financial support, positively influencing the health of both mothers and infants through involvement in childcare, prenatal care, and emotional support during pregnancy and childbirth. However, research on the long-term effects of father involvement in during prenatal and its postpartum outcome, particularly in Indonesia, is limited.Purpose: This study aimed to measure the direct and indirect effects of father support throughout pregnancy on postpartum depression and breastfeeding weaning time, by considering potential mediating pathways and controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables.Methods: Prospective observational techniques were employed from January to July 2021, involving 648 consecutively selected mothers attending antenatal care in seven health clinics in Makassar. Data collection included meticulous adherence to protocols covering sociodemographic factors, father support, and breastfeeding weaning time. Father support was assessed with the Father Support During Pregnancy questionnaire, administered three times with a 72-hour interval. Postpartum depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, while breastfeeding weaning time was quantified in weeks. Analysis included Spearman's correlation and SEM using SPSS and SPSS Amos.Result: The study identified negative correlations between maternal breastfeeding weaning time and postpartum depression (r=-0.183, p<0.01), and positive correlations with father support (r=0.148, p<0.01), parity (r=-0.269, p<0.01), and marital age (r=0.187, p<0.01). In the standardized model showed a marginal rise in the overall influence of father support, parity, and marital age on breastfeeding weaning time (0.256, 0.016, and 0.123, respectively). Father support emerged as the primary contributor to postpartum depression, inversely impacting breastfeeding duration. Higher father support correlated with lower maternal depression scores, and longer.Conclusion: This study highlights the role of father support in reducing the impact of postpartum depression on breastfeeding duration. Nurses can contribute by participating in interdisciplinary research and advocating for comprehensive assessment approaches.

Seminar Parenting: Peran Ayah dalam Pengasuhan Anak Usia Dini di Desa Tanjunganom, Kecamatan Rowosari, Kabupaten Kendal

The presence of both parents plays a crucial role in the development of early childhood, especially in creating an environment that supports their optimal growth and development. Ideally, fathers and mothers work together in parenting with a balanced division of roles. However, in Indonesia, father involvement is often less than optimal because of the view that the father's main task is to earn a living. This study aims to improve the understanding and knowledge of the community, especially in Tanjunganom Village, about the importance of father involvement in child care. Through seminars and mentoring held by the KKN POSKO 5 UIN Walisongo Semarang team, fathers were given insight into the division of roles, monitoring strategies, and evaluation in child care. The results of this activity showed an increase in knowledge among fathers regarding their role in parenting, as well as their ability to balance time between work and child care. Children who are cared for by actively involved fathers show progress in social, emotional, cognitive, and affective development. In conclusion, father involvement in early childhood care is very important to support children's overall development. Fathers who are active in parenting have a stronger relationship with their children, which ultimately makes children more sensitive to their emotions and environment. Therefore, it is highly recommended for fathers to understand that child care is a shared responsibility between father and mother.

Enhancing the Understanding of Paternal Involvement in Childcare and Its Impact on Maternal Disciplinary Practices.

Enhancing the Understanding of Paternal Involvement in Childcare and Its Impact on Maternal Disciplinary Practices.

Drivers of intimate fatherhood in contemporary China: Childhood experiences, social media, and partner encouragement

Objective: This study aims to investigate what factors contribute to the display of intimate fatherhood amongst contemporary urban Chinese fathers. Background: Although a growing body of research has investigated men’s involvement in physical, and more recently, also emotional involvement in childcare, what drives men to be emotionally involved in childcare has received scant attention in the research literature, particularly in Asian countries such as China. Method: Our study draws on in-depth interviews with 19 urban Chinese fathers to investigate why men display intimate fatherhood in parenting. The thematic analysis procedure is used to answer our research questions. Results: Findings show that men’s disappointed feelings about the limited involvement of their own fathers, the intimate fatherhood contents presented in social media, and encouragement from their partner were important contributing drivers for contemporary Chinese fathers to display intimate fatherhood. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of personal biographies, partner influences, and social media in contributing to men’s emotional involvement in childcare. Our findings are useful for policymakers and professionals to understand, and to promote, as well as strengthen, men’s commitment to displaying intimate fatherhood.

어머니의 양육효능감과 아버지의 양육참여가 유아기 자녀를 둔 어머니의 양육 스트레스에 미치는 영향

Objectives This study was conducted to investigate the influence of maternal parenting self-efficacy and father involvement in childcare on mothers' parenting stress. Methods An online survey was conducted on 405 mothers with early children aged 3 to 5. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analysis, Simple Regression and Multiple Regression. Results Prior to analyses according to research questions, results of investigating relationship among parenting stress, parenting efficacy and fathers' involvement in child care revealed significant negative correlations. Results of analysis according to the first research question revealed that maternal parenting efficacy negatively influenced on parenting stress and difficulty of parenting role was more influential than confidence of parenting role regardless of sub-variables of parenting stress. And several specific behaviors which were relatively highly related to relief of maternal parenting stress were identified. Results of analysis according to the second research question revealed that fathers' involvement in child care negatively influenced on parenting stress and relative influence differ according to sub-variables of fathers' involvement in child care. And several specific parenting involvement behaviors which were relatively highly related to relief of maternal parenting stress were identified. Conclusions This study revealed that fathers' involvement differently influenced according to sub-variables of maternal parenting stress and identified specific parenting efficacy behaviors and fathers' involvement behaviors which were relatively highly related to maternal parenting stress. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these findings when preparing for measures to cope with parenting stress of mothers with early children.

Effectiveness of a Father-Inclusive Parenting Intervention on a Child’s Diet, Early Stimulation, and Father Involvement in Childcare in Rural Malawi: A Study Protocol for a Four-Arm, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND. Increasing the engagement of fathers or couples in childcare may generate additional benefits on early child outcomes. However, parenting intervention that includes fathers and couples is limited in low-resource settings. Thus, this study designed a parenting intervention on child nutrition and responsive care that is inclusive of fathers and couples, using behavior change communication. First, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the parenting intervention on a child’s diet, early stimulation, and father involvement in childcare among parents of a child aged 6-23 months in rural Malawi. Then, we assessed the added benefit of including fathers and couples in the intervention to improve the outcomes. METHODS. In this four-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial, we assessed the effectiveness of a parenting intervention in rural Malawi. We randomly selected and allocated 40 communities to the intervention or control arms in a 3-to-1 ratio. Four arms included a mothers-only treatment arm, a fathers-only treatment arm, a couples treatment arm, and a control arm. Eligible households were a two-parent household having a child aged 6-23 months, a child having a mother as a primary caregiver living with a male partner, and a parent aged 18 or above. Intervention arms participated in two peer group sessions and two home visits focusing on child nutrition and responsive care. Behavior change communication was used to deliver key behavioral messages. Primary outcomes were child dietary diversity score, early stimulation, and father involvement in childcare. The analysis was done using difference-in-differences estimation. DISCUSSION. The study will provide evidence of the effectiveness of the parenting program that can be replicated and scaled-across in other low-resource settings like rural Malawi.

Children’s involvement in home-based childcare: are boys more susceptible to caregiver sensitivity than girls?

Children’s involvement in home-based childcare: are boys more susceptible to caregiver sensitivity than girls?

A Narrative Review-Participation of Fathers in Child Health Care in India

Abstract Review studies of the father’s role in child care and father involvement, attitudes, and values associated with it, and strategies for promoting their participation. This review aims to analyze fathers’ involvement in child care and father behavior, as well as associated values and strategies for development. To study the father-child connection and factors such as the child’s social behavior, academic performance, and health-related psychological factors. They are more sensitive, loving, and encouraging toward their young children. When it comes to their young children, they are more receptive, affectionate, and assured. They are also better at maintaining their composure when dealing with rebellious toddlers. A child’s emotional and social development is significantly influenced by how fathers cooperate with their children through play. Compared to mothers, fathers spend a far larger volume of their one-on-one time with infants and preschoolers engaging in stimulating play activities. PubMed and Google Scholar Searches were conducted using Medical Subject Headings terms and related keywords. This study examined the various reviews on the relationship between the roles of fathers in childcare and the factors that may influence the same. Traditional gender norms in child care influence the group of people’s images of fathers’ obligation and serve as a barrier to their involvement in the community. In most populations, fathers can support their families financially. They act as positive role models for their children, defend their families from harm, and exercise control over their wives, children, and other family members. Fathers may provide for and nurture their children. Fathers play and teach their children alone or hold them when their mothers are busy. Interventions focused on improving fathers’ and mothers ideas and attitudes about child care, and the relevance of shared childcare duties may improve fathers’ engagement. Fathers’ participation has various impacts on the child’s healthy development of character, social skills, understanding, intellect, academic achievement, gender roles, morality, and emotion. Fathers’ participation in childcare is affected by family and society, and fathers’ personalities affect children’s personalities to some extent. Father involvement, results also revealed that father involvement was low in childcare responsibilities only; however, other subareas of involvement were high. It was found that especially mothers were responsible as primary caregivers for child care.

“Widow-style parenting”: the discursive formation of gendered parenting roles and popular feminism on social media in China

In China, content creators on noninstitutional social media platforms, collectively known as zimeiti, have sparked fervent discussions about “widow-style parenting.” This term is used to describe the lack of paternal involvement in childcare. Using feminist critical discourse analysis, this study explores how widow-style parenting is discussed in the context of popular feminism in China. Rhetorically, zimeiti articles aim to promote a more equal division of childcare between parents and reshape traditional masculinity. However, they fall short of achieving this goal because they endorse gender essentialism. This means they place the blame on mothers and reinforce their self-denial and burden. Interestingly, the reader comments challenge this discourse by questioning the structural gender inequality and demanding a change in the grueling work culture in China. These points are often overlooked by the articles because of their commercialized and depoliticized nature. The interaction between zimeiti articles and readers creates a dynamic space that both reinforces and challenges existing gender norms in parenting. This study is the first to investigate how ordinary people respond to popular feminism on social media in China. It enriches our understanding of emerging popular feminism and the evolving dynamics of family relationships in East Asia.

Effects of paternal involvement in nighttime childcare on child and maternal sleep: exploring the roles of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep.

Supportive coparenting between couples has been shown to have positive effects on the dyadic relationship, child development, and parental and child sleep. This study aimed to investigate the association between paternal involvement in nighttime childcare and child and maternal sleep, while exploring relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep as mediators. The sample consisted of 290 mothers (mean age ± standard deviation = 34.8 ± 4.1) with children (50.7% male) aged 6-36 (mean ± standard deviation = 22.7 ± 8.6) months. Participants reported their paternal involvement in nighttime childcare and completed the following questionnaires: Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised, Dyadic Adjustment Scale-4 items, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Path analysis was conducted to examine the impact of paternal involvement on child and maternal sleep through relationship satisfaction and maternal competence. Among the sample, 74.8% responded that paternal participation in nighttime childcare was less than 25%. Path analysis showed that paternal involvement had a significant direct effect on maternal insomnia (β = -.15, P < .05) but not on child sleep. Direct pathways from paternal involvement to relationship satisfaction (β = .17), from relationship satisfaction to maternal competence (β = .19), from maternal competence to child's sleep (β = -.57), and from child sleep to maternal insomnia (β = .48) were significant (P < .01). Relationship satisfaction mediated the associations between paternal involvement and child (β = -.08, P < .05) and maternal (β = -.04, P < .05) sleep. Paternal nighttime childcare involvement was low in South Korea. The results highlight the importance of considering paternal supportive participation and relationship satisfaction in future research on child and maternal sleep. Song J, Jang E, Astbury L, Bei B, Suh S. Effects of paternal involvement in nighttime childcare on child and maternal sleep: exploring the roles of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(8):1241-1250.

Factors Influencing Parenting Stress in Female Married Nurses with Young Children

This descriptive survey aimed to identify factors influencing parenting stress among female married nurses with young children. Multiple regression analysis were conducted using the data obtained from 132 surveys. The variables influencing parenting stress were found to be, in order, work-family balance (β=-.356, p&lt;.001) and “Me Time” (β=-.195, p=.016), with an explanatory power of 16%. Spousal involvement in childcare did not significantly correlate with parenting stress. However, satisfaction with childcare assistance from sources other than the spouse revealed a significant difference, indicating that having satisfactory childcare support, even if not for the spouse, can reduce parenting stress. Female married nurses with young children require support to secure sufficient “Me Time” between juggling work and family along with childcare. In particular, strengthen the social support system is needed that people can maintain their identity through “Me Time.”

An unbalancing act: gender and parental division in childcare in South Africa

The South African Children’s Act, 2005 defines ‘care’ to include safeguarding all aspects of a child’s wellbeing. Despite this obligation falling equally on both parents, studies have shown that mothers in South Africa continue to take greater responsibility for childcare than fathers. Using the most recently available nationally representative quantitative data on physical and financial childcare, collected for the National Income Dynamics Study, this article presents a detailed overview of the involvement in childcare of men compared with women, and fathers compared with mothers. The article includes examining the gender and parental division in assistant childcare, investigating the role played by absent parents in regular physical and financial care, and analysing the gender division in household income of households in which children live.

Effects of partner involvement in nighttime child care on child and maternal sleep: a path model analysis of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep

Effects of partner involvement in nighttime child care on child and maternal sleep: a path model analysis of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep

Mother’s Instinct? Biological Essentialism and Parents’ Involvement in Work and Childcare

AbstractDespite wide public support for gender equality in work and caregiving, family responsibilities are still divided predominantly along traditional gender lines. This study examined the role of biological essentialism in the division of family roles using a nationally representative sample of British parents with young children (N = 5,605). Both mothers’ and fathers’ essentialist beliefs about men’s and women’s innate ability to care for children were associated with a more traditional division of childcare tasks, more hours of childcare provided by the mother, and fewer hours of childcare provided by the father. When gender role attitudes were considered together with biological essentialism, only essentialism was a significant predictor of involvement in childcare. Finally, the results supported our predictions that the effect of biological essentialism is mediated through parents’ work hours, and that essentialism affects mothers’ and fathers’ involvement in work and childcare in opposite directions. Taken together, the findings suggest that essentialist beliefs are a key hindrance to greater gender equality because they motivate parents to divide roles according to traditional gender norms. These findings may be of particular interest to practitioners and policy makers interested in increasing fathers’ involvement in childcare, mothers’ participation in the labor force, and overall gender equality.

Fathering, living arrangements, and child development in China

The impact on child development of paternal involvement in childrearing has received growing attention recently. Based on data from the 2010, 2014 and 2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies, this study applies the propensity score matching (PSM) method to investigate the causal effects of being primarily raised by one’s father on children’s cognitive skills and psychological well-being in different family types. In migrant families, primarily fathered children are not disadvantaged compared to those primarily mothered, and boys even have better word test scores. For children living with both parents, our results indicate no significant differences in most respects between the cognitive skills and mental health of children primarily cared for by fathers and by mothers, except that children perform slightly worse in word-test scores when their fathers are their primary caregivers. However, coresidence with grandparents substantially mitigates the negative effect of primary paternal involvement in childcare on children’s language development. Our findings suggest that the role of father involvement in child development should be understood in more nuanced family contexts.

Japanese fathers' work-related factors associated with involvement in childcare.

Existing studies of fathers' involvement in childcare have focused on its impact on children's psychosocial development and the facilitation of family functions, like marital relationships. In this study, we investigated the factors that determine paternal childcare in Japan, particularly focusing on work-related hours and environment, separately, according to mothers' employment status. We used data from the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century (2010 cohort) conducted in Japan. We restricted the sample to 27 783 participants with working fathers and analyzed how paternal work-related factors affect fathers' childcare involvement by mothers' employment status using an ordered logistic regression model. In the model adjusting for all covariates, the odds ratio (OR) of spending less time with children on weekdays was higher: for fathers who worked 50 and more hours per week compared with those who worked 40-49hours per week (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.72-2.20 for 50-59hours), for fathers whose commuting hours were longer than those commuting less than 0.5hours per day (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 2.34-3.69 for 1.5 or more hours), for larger workplace employee sizes than for 5-99 employee sizes (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.38-1.77 for 500 or more employees). The associations between these paternal work-related variables and paternal hours spent with the children on weekdays were almost the same if the mothers were working or not working. Regardless of whether the mother is working, fathers' work environment factors, such as working hours, play a key role in their involvement in childcare.