Based on the traditions of role theory (Biddle and Thomas, 1979; Longres, 2000; Mead, 1934; Sarbin and Allen, 1954) and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997), this study examined non-custodial fathers and their involvement with their child. Using a convenience sample (n = 72) recruited from men enrolled in the Erie Family Center for Child Development Fatherhood Initiatives Programs, survey participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess their level of self-efficacy, the co-parenting relationship with the custodial mother of their child, and their parenting satisfaction, each posited to be determinants of their paternal involvement. Path analysis was used to assess the effects of these relationships on paternal involvement. Moreover, this study tested the hypothesis that paternal involvement would co-vary with child custody status and marital status.
Study results suggest parent satisfaction had the largest direct effect on paternal involvement while co-parenting relationships had the smallest effect on paternal involvement. Controlling for the effects of child custody status and marital status were not statistically significant. The magnitude of parent satisfaction and the minor effect of co-parenting relationship on paternal involvement may have been moderated by the non-custodial fathers participation in fatherhood programs. Implications for social work practice and social welfare policy are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08222007-180403 |
| Date | 28 August 2007 |
| Creators | Baker, Parris J |
| Contributors | Rafael Engel, Ph.D., David B. Miller, Ph.D., Edward Sites, Ph.D., Helen Petracchi, Ph.D. |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08222007-180403/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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