Parents' Fathering Identity Standards and Later Father Involvement

Publication Year
2016

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Based on propositions from identity theory, this study used a sample of 1,596 coresident couples from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study to examine whether parents' fathering role centrality standards and fathers' status centrality at the time of their child's birth were associated with mother and father reports of father involvement 1 and 3 years later. Mothers and fathers who rated fathering roles as more important reported greater father involvement at both Years 1 and 3; centrality of the father status was associated with father reports of involvement at both years, and mother-reported involvement at Year 3. Interactions between fathers' and mothers' role centrality standards, and between parents' role centrality standards and father status centrality, were found for mother reports of involvement at Year 3. Implications for research, practice, and theory are discussed.

Journal
Journal of Family Issues
Volume
37
Issue
2
Pages
221-244