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      Fathers' involvement and children's developmental outcomes: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

      , , ,
      Acta Paediatrica
      Wiley

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          Abstract

          This systematic review aims to describe longitudinal evidence on the effects of father involvement on children's developmental outcomes. Father involvement was conceptualized as accessibility (cohabitation), engagement, responsibility or other complex measures of involvement. Both biological fathers and father figures were included. We searched all major databases from the first dates. Data on father involvement had to be generated at least 1 year before measuring offspring outcomes. N = 24 publications were included in the overview: 22 of these described positive effects of father involvement, whereof 16 studies had controlled for SES and 11 concerned the study population as a whole [five socio-economic status (SES)-controlled]. There is certain evidence that cohabitation with the mother and her male partner is associated with less externalising behavioural problems. Active and regular engagement with the child predicts a range of positive outcomes, although no specific form of engagement has been shown to yield better outcomes than another. Father engagement seems to have differential effects on desirable outcomes by reducing the frequency of behavioural problems in boys and psychological problems in young women, and enhancing cognitive development, while decreasing delinquency and economic disadvantage in low SES families. There is evidence to support the positive influence of father engagement on offspring social, behavioural and psychological outcomes. Although the literature only provides sufficient basis for engagement (direct interaction with the child) as the specific form of 'effective' father involvement, there is enough support to urge both professionals and policy makers to improve circumstances for involved fathering.

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          Most cited references29

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          Family Structure, Father Involvement, and Adolescent Behavioral Outcomes

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            Fatherhood in the Twenty-First Century

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              The role of father involvement in children's later mental health.

              Data on 8441 cohort members of the National Child Development Study were used to explore links between father involvement at age 7 and emotional and behavioural problems at age 16, and between father involvement at age 16 and psychological distress at age 33, controlling for mother involvement and known confounds. Father involvement at age 7 protected against psychological maladjustment in adolescents from non-intact families, and father involvement at age 16 protected against adult psychological distress in women. There was no evidence suggesting that the impact of father involvement in adolescence on children's later mental health in adult life varies with the level of mother involvement.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Acta Paediatrica
                Acta Paediatrica
                Wiley
                0803-5253
                1651-2227
                February 2008
                February 2008
                : 97
                : 2
                : 153-158
                Article
                10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00572.x
                18052995
                40813364-72ad-4107-9124-b0f0534e203a
                © 2008

                http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1

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