Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Walter R. Schumm / The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate factors related to quantity and quality of biological father involvement in non-intact families and family support and their association with young adult child outcomes. The independent variables examined were the biological father's number of years living with his child, early, middle and late developmental periods present, number of transitions, and relationship quality with the young adult child during childhood. The dependent variables were related to sexual health and five distinct domains that have emerged from the research literature: 1) education, 2) economic, 3) physical, 4) social, and 5) emotional. This dissertation drew on a subsample of the 2,988 respondents of the New Family Structures Study (NFSS). Biological fathers were examined from non-intact families (n = 1793) of which 1,080, lived with their child for at least part of a year. The Father Adult-child Involvement Relationship Outcomes (FAIRO) Model was developed with current literature and theory to form quantity and quality father involvement hypotheses and test those using mean comparisons, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. This study detected weak to moderate positively statistically significant associations between the quantity and quality of the biological father involvement in the non-intact families and young adult child outcomes. The results seemed to indicate the importance of the role of the father; even in a non-intact family where the father spends time apart from his children, he is still able to influence the outcomes of his children. The findings pointed to the need for further research into fatherhood transitions, early involvement, and the salient influence of family support. This research takes a small step in examining quantity and quality father involvement associations on young adult outcomes to make an incremental contribution to the research, theory, and practice of father involvement that may benefit the future well-being of children.

Literature related to fathers and child physical abuse and neglect is lacking (Guterman & Lee, 2005; Lee, Bellamy, & Guterman, 2009). The purpose of this study was to better understand several pertinent aspects of fathering related to maltreatment. Three research questions were examined: 1.What are the attitudes, behaviors and contexts of fathers who have abused or neglected a child that relate to maltreatment? 2. What are the resources and capacities of these fathers which could be capitalized on? 3. How does goodness-of-fit or a poor fit between the father and child impact the parenting relationships of these fathers? Fifteen fathers in a parenting program for parents who are at high risk or who have abused or neglected a child participated in the study. In order to answer these questions, a traditional grounded theory methodology was used. Data analysis consisted of thematic analysis and constant comparative analysis. Based on data collected, a substantive theory entitled Fathering in a Context of Challenge and Complexity was developed. Results suggest that these fathers experience many challenges, but also have important strengths. Becoming a father was an important turning point for many of the fathers in this study. Fathers’ relationships with his children’s mothers, the need for social support, and the theme of change were all relevant. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.

Fathering has been studied with renewed interest by scholars seeking to understand the unique effects and contributions fathers have in the lives of children. Father involvement has been measured by tracking fathers· engagement with. accessability to. and responsibility for their children during childhood and adolescence. Generative fathering theorists have proposed that fathering and fatherhood are better understood by expansion of the dimensions of father involvement. Generative fathering research has found that father-child relationships are imbued with meaning across the life cycle. The meaning of generative fathering was explored in this study across four generations of fathers. all from one extended family tree. By applying a phenomenological method of inquiry through long interviews, the paricipants themselves have offered a unique description of the essence of generative fathering for their family. The similarities and differences in the qualitative nature of the fathering experience were expressed by the participants both between and within the generations. The influence of the spouses of the participants on both the conception and practice of fathering was explored along with other fa milial and nonfamilial influences. The results of the study provide evidence of the transmission of the meaning of fathering generatively over the generations in a unique ex tension of the definition beyond that of other theorists. There is support as well for key elements of the generative fathering conceptual framework and the model of responsible fathering.

In his model of psychosocial development, Erik H Erikson referred to the concept of generativity as a value that forms part of the adulthood phase of individuals. The concept has been defined as "... the desire to establish and nurture young people". Applied to parenting and in particular fathering, it refers to "... fathering that meets the needs of children by working to create and maintain a developing ethical relationship with them" (Dollahite et al., 1997a: 18). Such a relationship is important insofar as it necessitates the creation and maintenance of three psychosocial strengths, namely hope, fidelity and care - all of which are important for an individual to be healthy and functional (Erikson, 1984; 1997). The dissertation that follows primarily focused on the changing nature of fathering, with particular emphasis on a comparison between heterosexual and gay fathering in South Africa. This comparison served to indicate the manner in which these men conceptualised fathering, and the degree to which they displayed the principles of generative fathering to determine their possible differences and similarities. Evident from some of the key findings were the following. Firstly, in terms of the manner in which the men defined fathering, both groupings used similar concepts to define the position of a father. Secondly, based on the thorough discussion of the basic principles of generative fathering in Chapter Two, it was quite evident that both heterosexual and gay fathers knowingly and unknowingly ascribed to them. These included the components of generative fathering, being interaction, accessibility and paternal responsibility and the various categories of generative fathering, including ethical work, stewardship, development work and relationship work. Based on these similarities, it was of particular interest to the researcher that it was not the sexual orientation of the respondents which impacted on their relationship with their children, but rather independent factors such as the manner in which they were socialised by their fathers, their educational and occupational levels, as well as spousal support. As such, the research underscored the importance of eradicating traditional notions of the father serving only as moral figure, economic provider and gender role model. In addition, it also emphasised the fact that 'gay fathering' should not be regarded as a contradiction in terms, but that 'gay fathering' and the seemingly stereotypical 'gay lifestyle', should be viewed as two distinct and independent entities. / Thesis (M.A. (Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In his model of psychosocial development, Erik H Erikson referred to the concept of generativity as a value that forms part of the adulthood phase of individuals. The concept has been defined as "... the desire to establish and nurture young people". Applied to parenting and in particular fathering, it refers to "... fathering that meets the needs of children by working to create and maintain a developing ethical relationship with them" (Dollahite et al., 1997a: 18). Such a relationship is important insofar as it necessitates the creation and maintenance of three psychosocial strengths, namely hope, fidelity and care - all of which are important for an individual to be healthy and functional (Erikson, 1984; 1997). The dissertation that follows primarily focused on the changing nature of fathering, with particular emphasis on a comparison between heterosexual and gay fathering in South Africa. This comparison served to indicate the manner in which these men conceptualised fathering, and the degree to which they displayed the principles of generative fathering to determine their possible differences and similarities. Evident from some of the key findings were the following. Firstly, in terms of the manner in which the men defined fathering, both groupings used similar concepts to define the position of a father. Secondly, based on the thorough discussion of the basic principles of generative fathering in Chapter Two, it was quite evident that both heterosexual and gay fathers knowingly and unknowingly ascribed to them. These included the components of generative fathering, being interaction, accessibility and paternal responsibility and the various categories of generative fathering, including ethical work, stewardship, development work and relationship work. Based on these similarities, it was of particular interest to the researcher that it was not the sexual orientation of the respondents which impacted on their relationship with their children, but rather independent factors such as the manner in which they were socialised by their fathers, their educational and occupational levels, as well as spousal support. As such, the research underscored the importance of eradicating traditional notions of the father serving only as moral figure, economic provider and gender role model. In addition, it also emphasised the fact that 'gay fathering' should not be regarded as a contradiction in terms, but that 'gay fathering' and the seemingly stereotypical 'gay lifestyle', should be viewed as two distinct and independent entities. / Thesis (M.A. (Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This mixed-methods dissertation study examined how divorced, nonresidential fathers enact their identities as fathers with their nonresidential children via various communication modalities through the lens of Hecht's (1993) Communication Theory of Identity. After a pilot study, data was collected in two phases. In Phase I, fathers responded to an online survey. The results of this phase were analyzed using SPSS. The results indicated that, although there was a large degree of variability in these fathers' use of various modes of communication, several men utilized multiple modalities to interact with their nonresidential children. The results of Phase I also call attention to the enabling and constraining features of various modes of communication as they facilitated and/or restricted certain types of conversations. Phase II consisted of exploring two case studies in which fathers shared redacted transcripts of actual mediated interaction with their children. The transcripts were expanded using Labov and Fanshel's (1977) cross-sectional analysis and the interactions were then thematically analyzed and compared to a typology of fathering roles identified by previous research. The case studies provided two different perspectives of the same issue. Albeit in different ways both case studies demonstrated the inherent link between interaction and identity enactment. That is, one cannot enact his or her identity apart from interaction with others--and in these particular cases, with specific others. The dissertation concludes with a synthesis of the results of Phases I and II in light of several unsolicited emails I received from of my participants. Ultimately, this dissertation study highlights the inseparable connection between interpersonal communication and the means by which communication is mediated.

Though research on fathering and fatherhood has grown significantly over the past few decades, a persistent emphasis involves father involvement and its relationship to child outcomes. Far fewer studies have explored the intrapersonal processes of fatherhood, such as what it means to be a father in diverse contexts. Rural contexts, specifically within Appalachia, remain understudied and may present specific challenges or strengths that influence the development of fathering identities. The current study employed interpretive phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences of fathers who live and parent in rural Appalachia, an area and identity that is often stereotyped and marginalized, and to highlight these fathers’ strengths despite challenges. Informed by symbolic interactionism, this study sought to examine the social and cultural symbols that shape the meanings Appalachian fathers ascribe to fatherhood and explore how those meanings shape their own perceptions of themselves as fathers. Fathers residing in Appalachia were interviewed to gain insights into the lived experiences, meaning making processes, and strengths of Appalachian fathers. Findings show that Appalachian fathers seek to embody and preserve multigenerational values such as work ethic, community, and providing and protecting, while grappling with tensions between preserving traditions and adapting to change. Appalachian fathers negotiated identities against the backdrop of historical hardship and exploitation, which threatened their internal sense of agency and contributed to their feeling left behind in a changing world. Nonetheless, fathers actively negotiated their sense of self and found creative ways to (re)create Appalachian fathering to fit their unique context and lived experiences. / Master of Science

The relationship between fathers' and mothers' gender-role ideas and fathers' level of participation in general housework has been well documented. Data from a study in 1998 were used to explore specific aspects of this relationship. In particular, fathers' and mothers' genderrole ideas with regard to childcare (childcare ideas) was examined to see whether these ideas influence paternal childcare participation. Specifically, what impact they had on performance of childcare tasks and the time fathers spent with their children. The responses of 38 couples (76 individuals) were analyzed. No statistically significant relationships were found between the variables. The distribution of the data suggests that even though most fathers claimed to have nontraditional childcare ideas, most mothers still performed the great majority of childcare tasks.

The central theoretical argument of this study proposes that God reveals Himself to man through the biblically presented metaphor of Father, as portrayed by the Biblical covenants between God and man. The primary aim of this research is to describe the Biblical attributes of God the Father as a foundation of fathering. In order to achieve this objective, the study aims to identify what Scripture revealed about the attributes of God as our Father. It also investigates the ancient patriarchal traditions pertaining fatherhood and delves into what contemporary Christian literature proposes about the important aspects of fathering. It also proposes that such revealed attributes can serve as a foundation for human parents (which include fathers) to better understand the important aspects that they need to consider in order to father their own children with greater consistency according to the image of their heavenly Father. After delving into Scripture, the two relevant meta-theoretical fields of psychology and sociology were investigated to see what each respective field has put forth about the importance of a father who engages with his children in specific ways. An empirical research followed where participants answered open-ended questions that address their impressions about their own fathers or male role-models, God as their Father and what effect they think fathering has had on them. From there, the empirical research validated certain recurrent attributes which were also verified through a process of triangulation, what has been found in Scripture and the meta-theory about the important attributes of God as Father. The results of the interaction lead to a proposition of a model of pastoral foundation for fathering. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The central theoretical argument of this study proposes that God reveals Himself to man through the biblically presented metaphor of Father, as portrayed by the Biblical covenants between God and man. The primary aim of this research is to describe the Biblical attributes of God the Father as a foundation of fathering. In order to achieve this objective, the study aims to identify what Scripture revealed about the attributes of God as our Father. It also investigates the ancient patriarchal traditions pertaining fatherhood and delves into what contemporary Christian literature proposes about the important aspects of fathering. It also proposes that such revealed attributes can serve as a foundation for human parents (which include fathers) to better understand the important aspects that they need to consider in order to father their own children with greater consistency according to the image of their heavenly Father. After delving into Scripture, the two relevant meta-theoretical fields of psychology and sociology were investigated to see what each respective field has put forth about the importance of a father who engages with his children in specific ways. An empirical research followed where participants answered open-ended questions that address their impressions about their own fathers or male role-models, God as their Father and what effect they think fathering has had on them. From there, the empirical research validated certain recurrent attributes which were also verified through a process of triangulation, what has been found in Scripture and the meta-theory about the important attributes of God as Father. The results of the interaction lead to a proposition of a model of pastoral foundation for fathering. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.