Intergenerational factors, fatherhood beliefs, and African American fathers’ involvement
Structural equation model
Using a socioeconomically diverse sample of African American fathers, this study explores the potential role of (a) ideologies about the roles and contributions of fathers and (b) beliefs about one’s own experience in the parenting domain.
Greater intergenerational involvement was related to the endorsement of fathering roles and reflects active engagement in the lives of their children.
While parenting sense of competence was not associated with intergenerational factors in this project, parenting sense of competence was related to fathers’ self-reported involvement with their children.
Interventions addressing barriers to involvement should emphasize the complex interplay between fathering role ideologies and the multitude of experiences that shape these beliefs.
We thank the Fathers who participated in this study.
We would like to thank the National Science Foundation for funding. We’d also thank Strengths, Assets, & Resilience (StAR) and African American Youth Development (AAYD) lab members, staff, and community stakeholders for their assistance in recruitment and data collection.