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Handbook of Father Involvement

Multidisciplinary Perspectives

• Edited by Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda, Natasha Cabrera

• Price: $165.00
• Binding: Hardback
• Pages: 680
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 1st June 2002
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-3702-5

About the Book

This book brings together experts from diverse scientific disciplines who share an interest in the topic of father involvement. Unlike most books in the field, which tend to solely draw from a psychological perspective, this Handbook merges theories and research from the unique fields of psychology, economics, demography sociology, anthropology, and social policy. For the most part, research on fathering is motivated by concern for children's well-being. Social scientists share a core set of questions, including:
*"Who are fathers?"
*"What is father involvement and how does it affect children and families?"
*"What are the determinants of father involvement?"
*"How do cultural contexts shape fathers' roles in families?"
This Handbook sheds light on how a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of fathering can advance knowledge about these fundamental questions. This integrative approach is fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of human development generally, and to fathering more specifically.

At the core of this book are the goals of describing and understanding the nature, antecedents, and consequences of father involvement across biological status, family structure, culture, and stages in children's development--both within and across scientific boundaries. Each of the scientific disciplines represented offers unique methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of fathering and to the interpretation of behavioral patterns that characterize ecological systems that include--as well as extend beyond--family units. Together, the chapters offer provocative and challenging insight into the nature and meaning of fatherhood and father involvement by questioning longstanding assumptions about fathers' roles in the lives of families and children in current history.

Table of Contents

Contents: C.S. Tamis-LeMonda, N. Cabrera, Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Father Involvement: An Introduction. L.A. Roggman, H.E. Fitzgerald, R.H. Bradley, H. Raikes, Methodological, Measurement, and Design Issues in Studying Fathers: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Part I: S.L. Hofferth, The Demography of Fathers. D.J. Hernandez, P.D. Brandon, Who Are the Fathers of Today? S.L. Hofferth, J. Pleck, J.L. Stueve, S. Bianchi, L. Sayer, The Demography of Fathers: What Fathers Do. Part II: M.E. Lamb, Father Involvement and Child Development. M.E. Lamb, Infant-Father Attachments and Their Impact on Child Development. R. Palkovitz, Involved Fathering and Child Development: Advancing Our Understanding of Good Fathering. R.D. Parke, D.J. McDowell, M. Kim, C. Killian, J. Dennis, M.L. Flyr, M.N. Wild, Fathers' Contributions to Children's Peer Relationships. M.E. Lamb, Nonresidential Fathers and Their Children. Part III: L.M. Burton, Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives on Fatherhood: Traversing Lenses, Methods, and Invisible Men. D.J. Eggebeen, Sociological Perspectives on Fatherhood: What Do We Know About Fathers From Social Surveys? R.L. Jarrett, K.M. Roy, L.M. Burton, Fathers in the "Hood": Insights From Qualitative Research on Low-Income African-American Men. N. Townsend, Cultural Contexts of Father Involvement. J.L. Roopnarine, Father Involvement in English-Speaking Caribbean Families. Part IV: F. Marlowe, Father Involvement: Evolutionary Perspectives. J. Bock, S.E. Johnson, Male Migration, Remittances, and Child Outcome Among the Okavango Delta Peoples of Botswana. D. Waynforth, Evolutionary Theory and Reproductive Responses to Father Absence: Implications of Kin Selection and the Reproductive Returns to Mating and Parenting Effort. S.C. Josephson, Fathering as Reproductive Investment. Part V: I. Garfinkel, Father Involvement: Economic Perspectives. P. England, N. Folbre, Involving Dads: Parental Bargaining and Family Well-Being. W. Sigle-Rushton, I. Garfinkel, The Effects of Welfare, Child Support, and Labor Markets on Father Involvement? J.W. Graham, A.H. Beller, Nonresident Fathers and Their Children: Child Support and Visitation From an Economic Perspective. Part VI: J. Brooks-Gunn, S. McLanahan, Father Involvement: Social Policy and Intervention. M.J. Carlson, S.S. McLanahan, Fragile Families, Father Involvement, and Public Policy. N. Cabrera, J. Brooks-Gunn, K. Moore. J. West, K. Boller, C.S. Tamis-LeMonda, Bridging Research and Policy: Including Fathers of Young Children in National Studies. T.J. Nelson, S. Clampet-Lundquist, K. Edin, Sustaining Fragile Fatherhood: Father Involvement Among Low-Income, Noncustodial African-American Fathers in Philadelphia. R.B. Mincy, H.W. Pouncy, The Responsible Fatherhood Field: Evolution and Goals. C.S. Tamis-LeMonda, N. Cabrera, Closing Chapter: Cross-Disciplinary Challenges to the Study of Father Involvement.