142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Fathers involvement: Good or Bad, how does it impact child outcomes?

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Martha L. Coulter, DrPH MPH MSW , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Heather D. Blunt, PhD, MPH, CPH, CHES , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Melissa C. Mercado-Crespo, PhD, MSc, MA , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Background: The research and interest in father involvement in child outcomes is gaining attention. To date, there is no published comprehensive review of the impact of fathers on child health outcomes. Without this review, our understanding of the influence of different types and depths of father involvement in children’s lives is incomplete.

Purpose: This review aimed to systematically explore and summarize the published literature on fatherhood involvement and child outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of 13 types of father involvement (e.g, absent fathers, abuse, engagement, modeling, emotional bonding) on 11 child outcomes (e.g, health, mental health, risk behaviors, socio-emotional behaviors, education, delinquency, violence). We utilized multiple databases from a variety of fields (e.g, PubMed, CINAHL, Academic Premier, PsycINFO, Criminal Justice, ERIC). The search was limited to English language peer review articles focused on US populations, published between January 2006-January 2014.

Results: One hundred and sixty eight articles were identified as fitting our criteria and were fully reviewed by experts in the fields of child health (physical, mental health, criminal justice, violence and injury). This literature was primarily comprised of quantitative, longitudinal studies. Secondary data analysis of large national datasets was common (including Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, NICHD’s Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development).

Conclusions: Findings of the different types of father influence on each of the child outcomes will be discussed, including implications for research and practice, and recommendations for father parenting programs.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Describe the influence of father involvement on child health outcomes.

Keyword(s): Family Involvement, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified on the content of this presentation because I participated in the collection and analysis of data for this project. I have a PhD in public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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