Diversity in Family Life by Ruspini Elisabetta

Author:Ruspini, Elisabetta [Ruspini, Elisabetta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Family & Relationships, General, Social Science, Sociology, Marriage & Family, Gender Studies
ISBN: 9781447300922
Google: lDQ8DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Policy Press
Published: 2014-12-03T03:31:27+00:00

Male carers, couples and children

As just seen, the reasons for the decision to become a stay-at-home husband may emerge when a couple decide to have a child. Many parents realise that parenting (father’s and mother’s) support is vital during the children’s growing years.

A growing literature has led awareness of the importance of fathers to the development of their children (Coltrane, 1996; Allen and Daly, 2002; Lamb, 2004). That role seems to be especially important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds (Burgess, 2005). There is a substantial body of research literature documenting the positive benefits fathers bring to the lives of both their male and female children (see, eg, Snarey and Vaillant, 2002). A number of studies suggest that children of fathers who are involved, nurturing and playful develop better linguistic and cognitive capacities and experience better educational outcomes than the children of uninvolved fathers. Fathers also have an important role to play in their children’s literacy development. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning and academic achievement among adolescents (Pruett, 2000; Lamb, 2004; Rosenberg and Bradford, 2006; Marsiglio and Roy, 2012). There is also evidence that schoolchildren with involved fathers have higher levels of self-control, self-esteem and social skills (Amato and Rivera, 1999). A longitudinal (30-year) study of teen mothers and their children (Foley and Furstenberg, 1999) provides strong evidence that fathers have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of their children. The study found two pathways through which father relationships in adolescence may benefit their children in adulthood. Both male and female children who felt close to a father in adolescence were significantly more likely to report better physical and mental health outcomes at age 27 net of their physical and mental health when they were teenagers (Foley and Furstenberg, 1999). Another longitudinal study (Sarkadi et al, 2008) shows that father engagement reduces the frequency of behavioural problems in boys and psychological problems in young women; it also enhances cognitive development while decreasing criminality and economic disadvantage in low-income families. The influence of a father’s involvement on academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. When fathers are more involved in their child’s school, children are more likely to do well academically (Pruett, 2000; Lamb, 2004; Rosenberg and Bradford, 2006).

However, involving fathers in their children’s literacy activities may help fathers as well as their children. There are also numerous benefits that have been reported for the fathers themselves, including greater skill acquisition, greater confidence and self-esteem, a better father–child relationship, and increased engagement with learning (Clark, 2009).

From the woman’s point of view, the stay-at-home dad arrangement allows the mother to work without having to use day care or a nanny. This arrangement saves mothers from having to deal with the stress of finding acceptable childcare, checking backgrounds and paying for care. This allows for a more relaxed working environment for the mother and allows her to focus on her career. If the mother has a higher-paying job, this extra income can go to savings for the benefit of the children.

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