Search Results (97)

Much U.S. research supports the effectiveness of parenting education delivered via the home visiting method. Home visitors are essential to reaching fathers in this context, but not all have favorable attitudes toward father engagement or feel confident working with fathers. Given that father involvement is important for a wide range of child and adolescent outcomes and that fathers benefit from parenting education, it is important to better understand the forces that shape home visitors’ attitudes toward fathers, and thus their subsequent efforts to include them in publicly funded programming. Using survey data from 95 home visitors in Tennessee, this study explores whether home visitors’ beliefs about fathers and attitudes toward father engagement vary as a function of home visitor or agency characteristics. Results suggest training in social work, reporting father-friendly organizational attitudes and behaviors at one’s agency, and reporting supervisor support specifically for father engagement relate to various favorable fathering attitudes. Home visitors’ strategies to engage fathers in home visiting are presented, including strategies for before, during, and after the home visit. Overall, family service agency administrators are in key positions to make decisions that can improve agency father-friendliness, home visitor attitudes toward fathers, and subsequent outcomes for fathers, mothers, and children. Full article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.) and a major contributor to several cancers, including cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Although a safe and effective vaccine is available, HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal, particularly among racial, ethnic, and immigrant minority groups. This study explored multiple factors, such as cultural, social, and structural influences, influencing HPV vaccine decision-making among Cape Verdean immigrant parents in the U.S., a population currently underrepresented in HPV research. Methods: Qualitative study using individual, in-depth interviews with Cape Verdean immigrant parents of children aged 11 to 17 years living in the U.S. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using the social ecological model (SEM) to identify barriers and facilitators at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels. Results: Forty-five Cape Verdean parents (27 mothers, 18 fathers) participated. Fathers were significantly older than mothers (50.0 vs. 41.1 years, p = 0.05). Most were married or partnered (60%), had at least a high school education (84.4%), and reported annual household incomes of US$50,000 or more (66.7%), with no significant gender differences. Nearly all spoke Creole at home (95.6%). Fathers had lower acculturation than mothers (p = 0.05), reflecting less adaptation to U.S. norms and language use. Most parents had limited knowledge of HPV and the vaccine, with gendered beliefs and misconceptions about risk. Only seven mothers (25.9%) reported receiving a provider recommendation; all indicated that their children had initiated vaccination (1 dose or more). Mothers were the primary decision-makers, though joint decision-making was common. Trust in providers was high, but poor communication and the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials limited informed decision-making. Stigma, misinformation, and cultural taboos restricted open dialogue. Trusted sources of information included schools, churches, and Cape Verdean organizations. While parents valued the U.S. healthcare system, they noted gaps in public health messaging and provider engagement. Conclusions: Findings revealed that HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy among Cape Verdean immigrant parents in the U.S. were influenced by individual beliefs, family dynamics, healthcare provider interactions, cultural norms, and structural barriers. These findings highlight the need for multilevel strategies such as culturally tailored education, community engagement, and improved provider communication to support informed vaccination decisions in this population. Full article

Background: Caregivers in urban settings often face unique challenges in providing nurturing care. This qualitative study explores the complex realities of caregiving among mothers and grandmothers in urban poor neighbourhoods of Bangalore, South India. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this is the first study in urban India that examines how caregivers’ perceptions, along with individual and systemic factors, shape caregiving practices in this setting. Methods: In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 22 mothers and grandmothers of 4–6-year-old children from the urban MAASTHI cohort in Bangalore, South India. Topic guides were developed, pre-tested, and piloted. IDIs were conducted in local languages (Kannada and Hindi). Transcripts were coded using NVivo 12 plus and analyzed via a thematic analysis approach using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework to organize themes. Findings: At the microsystem level, caregivers engaged with children through storytelling and play, though competing demands like household chores often constrained these interactions. Disciplining techniques varied, and the absence of fathers placed additional burdens on mothers. The mesosystem revealed the critical role of extended family in providing support. At the exosystem level, unsafe neighbourhoods limited children’s opportunities for outdoor play. The macrosystem highlighted how religious values provided moral frameworks for parenting and the presence of stigma against single mothers. The chronosystem explored declining social support over time and challenges. Conclusions: These findings emphasize that caregiving inequities are not isolated but structurally embedded, demanding interventions that address sociocultural, economic, and spatial barriers to equitable support for caregivers, particularly those in disadvantaged settings. It calls for context-sensitive interventions, including community-based parenting programmes including maternal well-being, strengthening community and public support systems, improving safe play spaces, and longitudinal research. By amplifying marginalized caregivers’ voices, this research highlights the need for policies that support nurturing care in low-resource settings to break intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Identifying the factors influencing compliance is essential to improve the effectiveness of interventions. However, no study has examined factors that influence the longitudinal patterns of obesity intervention compliance. We aim to identify the longitudinal trajectories of parental and child compliance using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and assess the influencing factors. Methods: The Diet, ExerCIse, and CarDiovascular hEalth Children (DECIDE-Children) was a 9-month app-assisted obesity prevention intervention targeted 8–10-year-old children. Altogether, 684 child–parent pairs from the intervention group were included. Parents were required to use the mobile app to learn health knowledge, monitor children’s diet and exercise behaviors, manage children’s weight, and received the assessment results. Parental compliance was assessed as the monthly usage times and duration of the mobile app. For child compliance, we used data recorded by parents in the “behavior monitoring” module. We employed group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify distinct trajectories of parental and child compliance and examined their associations with childhood obesity outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify the influencing factors associated with the identified compliance groups. Results: Distinct trajectory groups of parental and child compliance were identified. The compliance trajectories of parents and children are related to the extent of changes in the child’s obesity-related outcomes (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. p < 0.05). A majority of parents were classified into the “relatively low compliance” group. Parents in this group was associated with having a daughter (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.31) and the father having a higher education level (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.60). For children, 20.2% were assigned to the “decreasing compliance” group. Children in this group were more likely to have a younger mother (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) and parents with poorer compliance (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.16, 5.47). Conclusions: Both student and parental compliance were shown to influence the effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions, highlighting the need to prioritize the assessment and promotion of compliance in such interventions. Child sex, paternal educational level, and maternal age were identified as significant factors associated with compliance, while the level of family involvement was found to play a pivotal role in fostering healthy behaviors in children. These findings suggest that future intervention strategies should place greater emphasis on engaging families and providing targeted supervision and support for populations at risk of lower compliance in order to enhance intervention outcomes. Full article

Adolescence is a critical period for sociopolitical development, yet research has primarily focused on youth with explicit civic engagement, overlooking the role of community involvement in broader contexts. This mixed-methods study examines how adolescent community involvement—ranging from volunteering and advocacy to participation in sports, religious, and cultural activities—shapes sociopolitical control (SPC) in young adulthood. Using longitudinal quantitative survey data from 352 Canadian families, alongside qualitative interviews with 32 adult participants, we analyze how relationships with parents and peers mediate the link between community involvement and SPC. Regression analyses demonstrate that community involvement in high school predicts SPC at age 25, with parental support and positive peer relationships serving as significant mediators. Mediation analysis further reveals that relationships with mothers exert the strongest indirect effect on SPC, followed by relationships with fathers and peers. Qualitative findings highlight the mechanisms through which relational contexts foster or hinder SPC, illustrating that family values, peer norms, and early exposure to social issues shape long-term civic identity. These results underscore the importance of fostering relationally supportive environments that encourage diverse forms of adolescent community participation, contributing to both individual empowerment and broader democratic engagement. Full article

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that has life-long impacts on individuals and their families, who are the main caregivers. This study investigated the self-reported quality of life (QoL) of Iranian mothers and fathers and aimed to identify the predictors associated with higher scores on the World Health Organisation’s QoL brief measure (WHOQOL-BREF), particularly those related to their child’s autism. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with two national samples of parents: one in which the mothers and father were related (n = 119 families) and a second sample involving 383 unrelated mothers and fathers, making a total of 623 Iranian parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants completed self-report measures assessing QoL, perceived child-rearing stress, social support, and coping strategies as well as pertinent demographic information of themselves and their child. These were chosen on the basis of previous research. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis. Results: There were few significant differences between mothers and fathers in both samples on the various rating scales. Regression analyses identified satisfaction with personal health and with their marriage, along with support from family as the main predictors of higher quality-of-life ratings. Access to professionals and positive interactions with their children augmented the contribution to parents’ overall quality of life. The children’s autism had minimal direct impact on the parental quality of life although it likely accentuated the importance to parents of the identified predictors. Discussion: The findings support the case for services to adopt a family-centred approach to the support they provide and for a greater engagement with fathers. Three strands are proposed for future research: recruiting families who receive little or no support, the identification of strategies for meeting the personal needs of parents, and undertaking longitudinal studies of interventions to improve family quality of life and the outcomes these have on the person with autism. Full article

This paper reports on the affordances and constraints encountered in the case of an innovative project designed to support early literacy development in Arabic and English while enhancing father-child wellbeing in Abu Dhabi. The project sought to encourage Emirati fathers to engage in interactive shared book reading at home with their young children. In a context where adult–child home reading is not a traditional practice and where children’s reading proficiency in public schools is often below international standards, the project sought to support families with their children’s early literacy development and to develop positive dispositions towards reading. Fathers (N = 80) of kindergarten children (4–5 years) in state schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were invited to participate in interactive workshops about shared parent–child reading. Fathers were provided with selected, high-quality books in both Arabic and English to read aloud with their children at home and were given guidance on ways to read interactively. In this paper, which draws upon survey results, focus group recordings, and researcher field notes from the workshop sites, the affordances and constraints encountered in supporting early home reading and parent–child wellbeing are explored. Recommendations are made for similar reading and wellbeing programs in multilingual contexts. These include providing accessible information to both fathers and mothers on the importance of reading with their children at home, sharing tips and modelling parent–child interactive reading, and the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate books for families. Full article

Introduction: Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is influenced by factors such as sex, age, dating violence, psychopathy traits, and antisocial and law-violating behaviors. This study explores how these variables relate to aggression towards parents, identifying key explanatory factors. Methods: This research engaged 136 Spanish adolescents aged 15–18 (mean age = 16.47; 51% female). Assessments included the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) for dating violence, the Psychopathy Content Scale (P-16) for psychopathy, the Antisocial and Criminal Behavior Scale in Adolescents (ECADA) for antisocial and law-violating behaviors, and the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) for CPV. Analyses of associations included linear regression and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Results: Females exhibited higher levels of verbal violence, less delinquency, and more frequent CPV towards mothers. Psychopathy, antisocial and law-violating behaviors, and exposure to verbal violence were correlated with filial aggression. Violence towards mothers was associated with older age, female sex, verbal violence exposure, and psychopathy (47% variance explained), while violence towards fathers was linked to younger age and psychopathy (28% variance explained). QCA results indicated that specific combinations of having experienced violence and psychopathic traits contribute to CPV towards both parents. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological and sociodemographic risk factors for CPV. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing exposure to violence, identifying at-risk adolescents, and implementing targeted interventions to promote family well-being. Full article

Background: Raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has consistently been found to be challenging for parents. However, available studies have mainly focused on mothers, raising questions about fathers’ involvement in raising children with ASD. Indeed, fathers’ involvement has consistently been reported as fundamental to the development of children with ASD. Thus, it necessitates extensions of Western-dominated literature to novel contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore the extent and predictors of fathers’ participation in the nurturance of children living with ASD. Methods: The survey was completed by 177 fathers raising children with ASD in the UAE and was based on the revised 27-item Fathers’ Involvement in Development and Rehabilitation Scale. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used to compute means and perform a multivariate analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Fathers’ ratings were high on involvement: attitude, support, and participation in training to assist their children with ASD. Also, support and participation in training significantly contributed to the variance in attitude towards children with ASD. Moreover, the place of residence of participants made a significant contribution to the variance in attitude towards children with ASD. Conclusions: There is a need for policymakers to capitalize on the gains already made in creating a favorable environment for the development of children with ASD in the UAE. Regular engagement between policymakers and fathers could enhance their engagement in raising their children. Full article

Background/Objectives: A contributory factor to childhood undernutrition is poor gut health occurring within the first 6–12 weeks of life despite exclusive breastfeeding. Pro/synbiotic administration may protect gut health. A qualitative study was conducted amongst mothers/carers and healthcare workers (HCWs) to explore their perceptions and the acceptability of pro/synbiotics administration in early life. Methods: This study was nested within a randomised, open, clinical trial of pro/synbiotics with 32 doses administered under supervision to infants between ages 0 and 5 months in western Kenya. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 mothers/carers, 12 Peer Mothers and 7 healthcare workers (HCWs) selected by purposive critical and key informant sampling. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a thematic coding framework. Results: The satisfaction with the pro/synbiotic administration was very high amongst all three groups. Commonly perceived benefits included protection from diseases, healthy growth of the infant and improved appetite. The main barriers were working mothers and other commitments making it difficult to stick to scheduled administration visits, adverse judgement and opinions in the community, and a lack of engagement from fathers. Insights were gained into different means of administering pro/synbiotics to young infants. Triangulation of the findings of the mothers/carers with HCWs showed that most identified motivations and challenges were similar. Conclusions: Pro/synbiotic administration was well accepted by the mothers/carers and HCWs and generally perceived to have health benefits. The administration of pro/synbiotics by the mothers/carers themselves to their infants may be feasible and overcome logistical challenges. Greater efforts to sensitise and engage fathers and communities would likely be critical for a community-based program. Full article

Background/Objectives: The HPV vaccine is key to preventing HPV-related cancers, yet vaccination rates are low, particularly among immigrant and ethnic minority groups. This study explored factors influencing HPV vaccine initiation and intention among Central American immigrant parents in the U.S. Methods: A cross-sectional study with parents of children aged 11 to 17 years. Results: Among the 168 parents (53.8% mothers, 46.2% fathers) in this study, 20% reported that their children had initiated the HPV vaccine and 23% of parents of unvaccinated children intended to vaccinate within the next 12 months. Sociodemographic factors, including the parent’s gender and length of U.S. residence, were significant predictors of HPV vaccine initiation and intention. Higher vaccine literacy was also a key factor, with parents with higher vaccine literacy scores being more likely to initiate vaccination and express intent to vaccinate their children. HCP communication strongly predicted both vaccine initiation and intention, yet fewer than 30% of parents received HPV vaccine information from a HCP, and less than 28% received a vaccine recommendation. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, receiving HPV vaccine information from a HCP was the strongest predictor of vaccine initiation (AOR = 93.23, 95% CI = 14.50–599.63, p < 0.001), adjusting for other variables. For vaccination intention, significant predictors included the length of U.S. residence (AOR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.75–0.95, p < 0.01), having a U.S.-born child (AOR = 10.47, 95% CI = 1.51–72.68, p < 0.05), and receiving vaccine recommendation from a HCP (AOR = 14.73, 95% CI = 1.77–122.32, p < 0.05). Conclusions: To improve vaccination rates, interventions should enhance HCP training, strengthen provider–patient communication, and address vaccine literacy through culturally tailored strategies and community engagement. Full article

Objective: To investigate primiparous women’s partners for knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the physical home food environment (PHFE), and to assess if the first pregnancy provides a teachable opportunity to enhance the PHFE of first-time pregnant couples. Design: This was a two-phase longitudinal in-depth qualitative study involving questionnaires and individual interviews during and after pregnancy. Participants: Fifteen male partners of primigravida women. Main outcome measures: Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning PHFE; lifestyle and dietary habits; and interest in guidance regarding healthy PHFE during the first pregnancy and the transition to parenthood. Analysis involved descriptive statistics and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: Key findings include the importance of mutual prenatal PHFE decisions; increased motivation for a healthier PHFE during pregnancy; a desire to provide a healthier environment than their own parents offered, acknowledgement of their wives as ‘nutrition experts’; challenges in accessibility of health foods in the home; and ‘the child eats what we eat’. The first pregnancy was recognized as a critical period for establishing a healthy PHFE. Conclusions and Implications: Expectant fathers have a crucial role in nestrition (nutritional nesting) in first pregnancies. Their engagement is essential in establishing a more supportive nutritional environment in the home and influencing the family nutrition in the long term. There is a need to promote partner involvement, investigate the broader roles of expectant fathers and non-male partners, and develop effective PHFE education for couples in the first pregnancy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early childhood development is profoundly influenced by parent–child interactions, with recent research emphasizing the crucial role fathers play alongside mothers. Paternal involvement, especially in caregiving activities like feeding, positively impacts children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. However, paternal depressive symptoms can hinder the quality of these interactions, potentially leading to long-term behavioral and emotional difficulties in children. Despite this, interventions to enhance caregiving quality that target fathers remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based video feedback intervention in improving father–child feeding interactions and reducing psychopathological symptoms in both fathers and their 12- to 24-month-old children. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted with 244 fathers and their young children. Participants were assessed at two time points (T1 and T2) four weeks apart. Fathers engaged in remote one-hour intervention sessions twice a week, based on the Video Intervention Therapy (VIT) approach. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) assessed the fathers’ psychopathological symptoms, while the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 1½–5) evaluated the children’s emotional and behavioral functioning. Father–child feeding interactions were video-recorded and analyzed using the Scala di Valutazione delle Interazioni Alimentari (SVIA). Results: Post-intervention analyses showed significant improvements in father–child feeding interactions, with reductions in maladaptive behaviors and interactive conflicts. Fathers exhibited significant decreases in psychopathological symptoms, particularly in depression, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive tendencies. Children demonstrated significant reductions in internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusions: The web-based video feedback intervention effectively enhanced the quality of father–child feeding interactions and reduced psychopathological symptoms in both fathers and children. These findings highlight the importance of supporting fathers in their caregiving roles to promote positive developmental outcomes during critical early childhood periods. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of such interventions and their applicability across diverse populations. Full article

Despite the health benefits of physical activity (PA), many individuals do not meet PA recommendations. Family-centered PA approaches, particularly active engagement by Mexican-heritage fathers, may support family PA. This study reports PA outcomes of a culturally tailored, father-focused, and family-centered, program for Mexican-heritage families. Promotora researchers recruited participating families (n = 59, n = 42 complete cases), consisting of children (mean age: 10.1 [SD = 0.9]), fathers, and mothers from five randomly selected geographic clusters in low-resourced colonias in south Texas, in a stepped-wedge randomized design. PA was measured using wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers. Statistical analyses for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), and sedentary time for the child, father, and mother were conducted using linear mixed models. The findings were as follows: children had no significant changes in MVPA (p = 0.18), LPA (p = 0.52), or sedentary behavior (p = 0.74); fathers had no significant changes in MVPA (p = 0.94), LPA (p = 0.17), or sedentary behavior (p = 0.15); and mothers had a significant decrease in LPA (p < 0.01), and no significant changes in MVPA (p = 0.66) or sedentary behavior (p = 0.77). Despite null results, this study provides an example of a culturally tailored, family-focused program implemented among Mexican-heritage families with limited PA resources and opportunities. Future PA interventions may require higher PA-focused doses over longer time periods to produce a significant change in LPA, MVPA, or sedentary time. Full article

Graduating from secondary education for adolescents living in poverty is challenging. Strong entrepreneurial intention and student engagement among youth living in poverty often play a protective role in reducing school dropout and fostering school completion, which results in improved educational attainment. However, research on this topic is scarce. A total of 1135 adolescents took part in this cross-sectional study, 50.9% of which were females. On average, they were 16.4 years old. They were all upper secondary school students from ten public and private schools in Lebanon. They completed instruments measuring entrepreneurial intention and student engagement. This study explored the covariate associations between risk and promotive factors through four dimensions of entrepreneurial intention and two components of student engagement (cognitive and psychological engagement). It shows positive associations for entrepreneurial intention with both individual factors (age) and social factors (working mother and private school). Negative associations for student engagement were found in all (individual and social) factors with the exception of the father’s job, which did not present any association. The findings provide insight for policymaking to empower schools to promote school completion and educational attainment among these youth by providing policy initiatives and school-based interventions that target entrepreneurial exposure and engagement strengthening, hence meeting young people’s individual, family, and school community needs. Full article