Needs Of Fathers Research Articles

Fathers’ perceptions of factors associated with the attainment of paternity leave: a qualitative study

BackgroundA systematic review has reported that paternal involvement is beneficial in reducing social, behavioural and psychological problems in children. However, little research has investigated factors associated with the attainment of paternity leave.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore fathers’ perceptions of the factors associated with taking paternity leave.Participants and settingOverall, 21 in-depth interviews were conducted with fathers to obtain information on their perceptions of paternity leave. We also conducted key informant interviews with four supervisors at companies to understand their opinions on paternity leaves and ensure that the implications of this study are relevant at workplaces.MethodsThematic analysis was adopted to analyse the data. Deductive coding was conducted based on previous studies on paternity leave, followed by inductive coding and modification of the initial codes. The final codes were organised based on the social-ecological model.ResultsThemes associated with taking paternity leave included fathers’ career aspirations, fathers’ commitment to supporting infants or mothers, mothers’ or infants’ need for fathers’ involvement, colleagues’ outlook on paternity leaves, fathers’ work schedules or responsibilities, support from relatives, paternity leave policies, and trends toward fathers’ involvement. The supervisors mentioned themes related to paternity leave from the broader perspective of long-term effects and impact on the organisation.ConclusionsThis study revealed fathers’ perceptions regarding the factors associated with taking paternity leave. The results may provide useful information on how to create an environment in which fathers can easily take paternity leave.

Analysis of the Experiences and Needs of Fathers of Children with Disability, Staffs, and Volunteers Who Participated in the Father-Child Camp

Analysis of the Experiences and Needs of Fathers of Children with Disability, Staffs, and Volunteers Who Participated in the Father-Child Camp

The Need for Fathers as Role Models to Aid Family and Social Cohesion in Resource-Constrained Contexts

The Need for Fathers as Role Models to Aid Family and Social Cohesion in Resource-Constrained Contexts

Father’s Day: Paternal Depression and the Needs of Fathers in the NICU

Father’s Day: Paternal Depression and the Needs of Fathers in the NICU

Anxiety Levels and Needs of Fathers of Children Hospitalized in Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Units

Anxiety Levels and Needs of Fathers of Children Hospitalized in Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Units

The Link between Oxidative Stress and Cancer: Prevention through Yoga

Sperm DNA damage induced by oxidative stress may lead to accumulation of mutations in sperm genome due to the presence of mutagenic oxidative adducts in DNA. This may contribute to the development of male infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, congenital malformations, neurodevelopmental disorders, and childhood cancers. This article highlights the impact of lifestyle habits of father preconceptionally, its lifelong impact on offspring’s health and impact of yoga-based lifestyle intervention on sperm genome and epigenome. Sperm is transcriptionally and translationally inert with a very basic repair mechanism and is thus unable to repair DNA damage and this may persist postfertilization and lead to accumulation of damaged DNA in each cell of zygote. This DNA damage with high levels of mutagenic oxidative base adducts may lead to accumulation of mutations in both sperm DNA (germline) and zygote (somatic). Majority of mutations arise during cell replication and as sperm has a limited capacity for DNA damage detection and repair, it is highly susceptible to accumulation of mutations. Paternal unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol, or tobacco consumption are positively associated with the risk of childhood cancers like nonfamilial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma. Lifestyle interventions like yoga improve sperm DNA integrity by reducing levels of oxidative DNA damage, optimizing oxidative stress, and by increasing the expression of genes responsible for DNA repair, cell-cycle control, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, social habits affect sperm DNA health and as such, it is recommended that simple lifestyle modifications (diet rich in fruits and vegetables, yoga, meditation) improve DNA health and may thereby decrease the incidence of childhood morbidity and cancer. Hence, biological parenting commences well before birth and even prior to conception, which highlights the need for fathers to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Support Needs of Fathers of Children with ASD: Individual, Family, Community and Ideological Influences.

Fathers are increasingly involved in caring for children, and involvement by fathers of children with ASD is distinctly impacted by added demands of their child's diagnosis. Yet supports for families of children with ASD are not tailored to needs of fathers. We use an ecological framework to examine how fathers' needs are influenced by contexts ranging from the immediacy of their child's behaviour to overarching expectations for good fathering. We thematically analyse data from semi-structured interviews with 28 fathers of children with ASD who shared parenting stories of navigating their immediate and broader environments. Fathers are responsive and reflective in their parenting and value recreationally based support activities that include their children. Fathers endorse father-to-father support and are interested in mentoring fathers newer to the experience of having a child with ASD. Fathers are resourceful parents who compel a critical re-examination towards advances in father-friendly practices.

Support needs of fathers and mothers of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Little research has examined the support needs of mothers versus fathers of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We identified and compared the important and unmet support needs of mothers and fathers, and evaluated their association with family and child factors, within 73 married couples who had a child or adolescent with ASD. Mothers had a higher number of important support needs and higher proportion of important support needs that are unmet than fathers. Multilevel modeling indicated that child age, co-occurring behavior problems, presence of intellectual disability, parent education, and household income were related to support needs. Findings offer insight into the overlapping and unique support needs of mothers and fathers of children and adolescents with ASD.

Needs of Fathers and Mothers of Children with Disabilities

Needs of Fathers and Mothers of Children with Disabilities

S09-04 - Needs of fathers and mothers of schizophrenia patients

IntroductionMost studies investigating the problems and needs of schizophrenia patients’ carers include only one care-giving relative - mostly the patients’ mothers.PurposeThe compare needs of mothers and fathers of patients with schizophrenia.Methods101 sets of parents of patients suffering from schizophrenia were included in this study. They were assessed by means of the “Carers’ Needs Assessment for Schizophrenia”.ResultsCompared to fathers, mothers reported significantly more often problems concerning stress due to earlier life events and burn-out. Mothers required some interventions such as individual psychoeducation or family counselling more than twice as often than fathers. Overall, mothers reported more problems and needs than fathers. The number of mothers’ problems was predicted by not living with a partner and a shorter duration of the patients’ illness (DUPI). The number of mothers’ needs was predicted by patients’ psychiatric symptoms, not living with a partner and a shorter DUPI. Among fathers we could not identify any predictors, neither for problems nor for needs.ConclusionsParents of schizophrenic patients have various problems handling their child's illness and therefore need professional support. Overall, mothers reported more problems and needs for interventions than fathers. The differences between mothers’ and fathers’ problems and needs indicate the importance of considering the carer's gender in clinical work.

Adolescent substance dependency in relation to parental substance (ab)use

Adolescent substance dependency in relation to parental substance (ab)use Problem: Relations between adolescents' substance dependency status (yes-no) as independent and adolescent self and family evaluations and parental indicators of substance dependency as dependent variables were studied. Methods: All together 197 families were included (father, mother, adolescent - mean age of adolescent was 17.2 years). Rosenberg self - esteem scale, originally constructed semantic differential perceived family climate, Zung depression scale and SASSI-3 (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory) instrument were applied. Multivariate and univariate approach were applied to verify hypotheses about differences in dependent variables regarding the independent one also with estimated mothers' and fathers' dependency as two covariates. Results: Level of depression was significantly higher, but level of self-esteem and family climate evaluation were significantly lower in dependent adolescents. Fathers of non-dependent adolescents and mothers of dependent adolescents were found more substance dependency vulnerable. Adolescent dependence status differed more frequently in fathers' than in mothers' SASSI-3 sub scores. Conclusions: Results indicate that in group of substance dependent adolescent families with healthier and more engaged fathers participated in the study. Support for mothers' vulnerability and need for fathers' involvement in treatment of dependent adolescent is underlined.

‘Dads aren't Demons. Mums aren't Madonnas.’ Constructions of fatherhood and masculinities in the (real) Fathers 4 Justice campaign

Constructions of fatherhood are key signifiers of masculinity/ies and, in the context of a new politics of fatherhood, these constructions have been articulated in opposition both to motherhood and femininity/ies and to ideas of the ‘deadbeat dad’ (Collier 2006, Gavanas 2004, Kaye and Tolmie 1998). The fathers' rights movement has contributed to this redefinition of fatherhood. In the case of the UK group, Fathers 4 Justice, the central message is that ‘Dads aren't Demons [and] Mums aren't Madonnas’ (fathers-4-justice.org). The paper draws on in-depth interviews conducted with members of the fathers' rights group, Real Fathers for Justice/Fathers 4 Justice, to explore and illustrate the conceptions of fatherhood underpinning the campaign. My analysis of the interviews suggests that there is indeed an anxiety to distinguish ‘good’ from ‘bad’ fathers and also to underline the need for fathers by highlighting the existence of ‘bad’ mothers. In addition, conceptions of the good father expressed in the interviews can be further subdivided into the ‘nurturing father’, the ‘father as superhero’ and the ‘good enough father’.

Father and Adolescent Son Variables Related to Son's HIV Prevention

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fathers' influences and African American male adolescents' perceptions of self-efficacy to reduce high-risk sexual behavior. A convenience sample of 70 fathers was recruited from churches in a large metropolitan area in the South. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis indicated father-related factors and son-related factors were associated with 26.1% of the variance in son's self-efficacy to be abstinent. In the regression model greater son's perception of the communication of sexual standards and greater father's perception of his son's self-efficacy were significantly related to greater son's self-efficacy for abstinence. The second regression model with son's self-efficacy for safer sex as the criterion was not statistically significant. Data support the need for fathers to express confidence in their sons' ability to be abstinent or practice safer sex and to communicate with their sons regarding sexual issues and standards.

The Good Father: Parental Expectations and Youth Sports

Family life and expectations for parents have changed dramatically over the past two generations. In the United States these changes have been fuelled by a combination of factors, including a conservative emphasis on traditional family values and fathers as heads of households, a neo‐liberal emphasis on individualism and the need for fathers to take responsibility for the development of their children, a liberal feminist emphasis on gender equity in family life, and progressive ideas about the meaning of gender and sexuality. As a result of these factors mothers and fathers today are held responsible for the whereabouts and actions of their children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This standard, never before used in any society as a baseline measure for good parenting, serves as a foundation for linking the character and achievements of children to the moral worth of parents. Because sports are activities in which a child’s success is visible and objectively measurable, and because fathers are more likely than mothers to have or claim expertise in sports, the development of athletic skills among children is often monitored by fathers who act as coaches, managers, agents, mentors, and advocates for their child athletes. Therefore, the involvement of fathers in youth sports is grounded in complex cultural changes and it has implications for families and father–child relationships. These implications are discussed in light of new expectations that connect the moral worth of parents to the success of their children.

What Fathers Need: A Countywide Assessment of the Needs of Fathers of Young Children

Realizing the paucity of data available concerning fatherhood, the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County, a public-private community partnership with leadership from the local Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program, conducted a countywide needs assessment to ask fathers of young children about their personal and service-related needs in order to assist local stakeholders in expanding and improving services for families. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A total of 204 fathers of children aged 0 to 5 years completed a 35-question survey. In addition, 80 fathers and community representatives participated in nine focus groups. A complex set of needed services for fathers in the county emerged from the assessment, including: father-child activities; parks and recreational activities; better schools; parenting classes; support groups; high quality, affordable childcare; and general legal assistance. Only one-half felt the county was doing a good or excellent job in supporting fathers. This assessment is one county's effort to collect data about fathers, from fathers, in order to shape MCAH programming to better serve families. This assessment may serve as a model for other MCAH programs interested in improving services for fathers and families.

Deconstructing the Fear of Father Absence

This paper critically examines Louise Silverstein's and Carl Auerbach's paper on Deconstructing the Essential Father. The paper provides research support for their position that children benefit from stable, consistent, loving, low-conflict parenting arrangements; irrespective of the gender of the parent. Silverstein and Auerbach, however, go beyond this conclusion to also recommend that children would benefit from being reconnected with their ‘absent’ fathers. The current paper challenges this particular conclusion to their critique and explores the apparently contradictory position that there is no essential need for fathers yet efforts should be made to proactively develop and support social and emotional connections between children and their fathers. The paper also examines other literature and research findings around the ‘unique’ contribution of social fathering in raising children, and concludes that there is no social, psychological, or developmental justification to legislate for father presence. There is no research-based credibility in promoting patriarchal, nuclear family formation as a preferred social and family structure to optimise children's emotional, social, physical, and economic outcomes. The political and social pretext that underlines ‘father absence fear’ is just that; a pretext to retain the hegemony of patriarchal nuclear family life and restore fathers to their ‘rightful’ positions of power and control within families. In developing a conclusion to this critique, the paper draws on a brief case-study from a lesbian-parented family research project conducted in Victoria, Australia, and illustrates implications for family therapists with a brief clinical vignette.

The needs of fathers parenting children with chronic conditions.

Children with chronic conditions survive for longer periods of time than ever before, thus needing optimal growth and development for themselves, their family members, and the family as a unit. A literature review suggests that these fathers have parenting needs that may differ from fathers of well children. This study identifies and compares these needs. Ninety-nine fathers in a large metropolitan area (48 fathers of children with chronic conditions and 51 fathers of well children) completed the Hymovich Family Perception Inventory anonymously. The results reveal significant differences between the parenting concerns of fathers of children with chronic conditions and fathers of well children in the areas of their children's health and the parenting concerns of their wives. There are indications that professional anticipatory guidance, dissemination of information, and encouragement in the use of fathers' informal support systems are needed by fathers of children with chronic conditions.

Strengths and Learning Needs of African American Fathers

The purpose of this study was to determine how African-American fathers of 10- to 14-year-olds viewed their strengths and learning needs as parents and to find out how children in this age group perceived the parent performance of their fathers. The Parent Success Indicator (PSI) was completed by 102 fathers and 104 adolescents. Significant differences were found between generations on 5 of 6 scales and 26 of 60 items. Independent variables with the greatest effect on how both generations viewed parent success were: amount of time father and child spent together, having an adult at home when the child returned from school, and gender of child. Recommendations were made for the content themes of a parent curriculum to address the learning needs of these fathers.

Adapting Parent Education Programs to Meet the Needs of Fathers: An Ecological Perspective

Adapting Parent Education Programs to Meet the Needs of Fathers: An Ecological Perspective

The Needs of Fathers of Young Handicapped Children

The purpose of this article is to examine the needs of fathers of handicapped infants and preschoolers, It summarizes the importance of parent involvement, but notes that parent involvement has frequently meant "mother" involvement. A statewide sample of fathers was surveyed in Colorado concerning their needs in relation to their handicapped child. The results of the survey (N = 152) indicated that fathers of young handicapped children are interested in their child's education. Fathers indicated a desire to learn how to become more involved in the child's education and treatment by participating in formal and informal activities. The subjects also indicated an interest in learning through alternative experiences such as a newsletter or resource library. Fathers reported that they felt they were coping fairly well with raising a handicapped child, but had concerns about the future impact of the handicap on the child and the family.