The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51930

Wrenetha Julion, DNSc(c), MPH, RN, College of Nursing, Rush University, 600 South Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612, (312) 942-6272, Wrenetha_A_Julion@rush.edu

Current social policies for increasing the involvement of African-American non-resident fathers (AANR) in the lives of their children have largely evolved from research with European-American and divorced fathers, single mothers, and the media. Little is known about paternal involvement (PI) from the perspective of AANR fathers. The purposes of this study were to describe (a) paternal involvement from the perspective of AANR fathers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, (b) factors they perceived facilitated and hindered their involvement with their children, and (c) facilitators and hindrances that were most predictive of paternal involvement. The sample consisted of 295AANR fathers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who had at least one biological child (< 18 years old) with whom they did not live on a full time basis. The study was conducted in 3 phases. Focus groups were conducted with AANR fathers to identify themes that were then used to develop the Julion Paternal Involvement Index (JPII), a survey of paternal involvement. The JPII and a demographic survey were administered to 211 AANR fathers representing a range of socioeconomic contexts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and regression analyses. The results of this study indicate that (1) AANR fathers are involved in multiple ways with their children and (2) facilitators and hindrances that are associated with PI tend to be interpersonal (i.e. the father having someone to talk to about his feelings) rather than societal. Interventions are needed that focus on addressing AANR fathers' interpersonal concerns related to PI.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe (a) paternal involvement from the perspective of AANR fathers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, (b) factors they perceived facilitated and hindered their involvement with their children, and (c) facilitators and hindrances that were most predictive of paternal involvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.