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Background: Even though the development of an emotional bond to the child involves both parents, studies on the development of paternal bonding and the influencing factors are scarce. This pilot study examines the quality of paternal postnatal bonding in association with paternal depressive and anxiety symptoms before and after birth. Methods: Expecting parents (n = 81) were recruited from maternity services in Frankfurt, Germany. At recruitment and 3 months postpartum (pp) mothers and fathers completed an interview including sociodemographic and pregnancy data. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. At 3-month pp, fathers also completed the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire for the assessment of bonding difficulties. A total of 63 couples, from whom data were available for both time points, were included in the final study group. Results: Depressive and anxiety symptoms before birth are the best predictors for the quality of paternal bonding pp (Total score R2.402 p =.001; Impaired bonding R2.299 p =.019; Rejection and Anger R2.353 p =.005; Anxiety about care R2.457 p =.000). Maternal depression and sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated. Limitations: High selected small study group. Conclusions: Paternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy are highly predictive for the quality of bonding as well as for the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms 3 month pp. It is necessary to identify these symptoms as soon as possible in order to prevent later negative impacts on parental mental health and on child developmental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of music and singing in fostering transformative caring relationships between fathers and their children. It aims to understand how these interactions contribute to fatherhood identity and relational dynamics, filling a significant gap in research on musical fatherhood. Employing a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach, the study conducted open‐ended interviews with eight fathers, analysing data through the lens of Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. Findings reveal that musical activities enable fathers to engage intuitively and responsively with their children, facilitating a pre‐verbal form of communication that deepens emotional bonds and enhances paternal identity. Music and singing emerge as powerful tools that transcend traditional parenting roles, allowing fathers to experience and express a potentiated sense of fatherhood marked by empathy, connection and care. This study highlights the profound impact of musical engagement on father–child relationships and suggests broader implications for emotional intelligence and gender roles in parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review proposes a new concept, the 'Paternal body', to illuminate the corporeal impact, on employed men, of new fatherhood. It explores literatures on fatherhood, employment and health to reveal how fathers experience pregnancy, birth and infant‐care (infancy defined, here, as up to age two). In contrast to well‐established notions regarding Maternal (pregnant and post‐birth) bodies, there exists within management studies no similar concept to facilitate understanding of recent fatherhood, the body and employment. The proposed concept 'Paternal body' addresses this lack, offering a strategic platform for theorizing how fatherhood impacts men's lived, bodily experience of balancing paternity with paid work. Drawing upon interdisciplinary perspectives from sociology and health literatures, the paper reviews research on paternal corporeality in the context of employment in neo‐liberal (market‐oriented) economies (typified by the USA and UK). It identifies related and important health symptoms (such as sleep deprivation) that pose risks to paternal health and employment. Yet the review shows how expectant/recent fathers are pressured, at work, to live up to a mythical image of hegemonic masculinity that requires them to display strong work‐orientation, denying ill‐health and working long hours away from home. The paper coins the term: 'Absent warrior' to represent this illusion of a 'manly' father (warrior) who is absent from infant‐care and from his home, but bodily present at work: a father who is supposed to deny the materiality of inhabiting a Paternal body. Recommendations are made for further exploration of fathers' embodied health needs through the concept of the lived 'Paternal body'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Life behind fences: expanding and shifting the meaning of 'spiritual resistance'" explores the concept of spiritual resistance in the context of the Holocaust, expanding it to encompass broader themes of everyday life under siege. The special section in the Journal of Modern Jewish Studies delves into various aspects of this theme, including gender roles, linguistic barriers, and postwar experiences of professional musicians. Through detailed analyses of artistic works, diaries from Nazi camps, linguistic challenges faced by Salonikan Jews, and the migration trajectories of displaced musicians, the articles shed light on the complexities of survival, identity, and resilience during this dark period in history. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a comparative analysis of three works created by Jewish fathers during the Holocaust: Yitzhak Katzenelson's poem “The Day of My Great Tragedy,” Bedřich Fritta's illustrated book for his son Tommy, and Rubin Ben Shem Feldschuh's children's book Between the Walls of the Ghetto. Using frameworks from micro-history, gender studies, and the history of emotions, this study investigates the evolving dynamics of father-child relationships, paternal identity, and the role of memorialization under the extreme conditions of the Holocaust. The works analyzed reveal consistent themes of emotional connection, education, and the fathers' struggles to maintain their roles as protectors and educators despite their inability to shield their children from the atrocities surrounding them. In Katzenelson's work, fatherhood is portrayed as a cornerstone of his identity, with his family's destruction leading to a personal and artistic transformation. Fritta's book embodies a father's hopes for his child's future after the war, using art as instruction and solace. Feldschuh's novel addresses the challenges of fatherhood in Ghetto, emphasizing the father's role as an educator and reflecting feelings of guilt and helplessness. In conclusion, the article posits that fatherhood during the Holocaust, as represented in these artistic works, transcended mere survival and protection, evolving into an act of emotional resilience and a way to preserve both personal and collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reduction of maternal mortality has stagnated globally. Estimates project a rise to 140.9 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, which is double the Sustainable Development Goal target. Male involvement in pregnancy care has been proposed as an intervention to improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of how communities view the role of men beyond the instrumentalist approach that only targets men as accompanying partners without altering the underlying gender and socio-cultural determinants that shape their involvement in pregnancy care. This study broadens existing research by exploring and and contextualising the role of male partners during pregnancy in Bamenda, Cameroon. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design underpinned by symbolic interactionism. We conducted 68 semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and three focus group discussions (FGDs) with purposively selected pregnant women (n = 38 SSIs; n = 2, FGD) and male partners (n = 30 SSIs; n = 1, FGD) in an urban hospital in the North West Regional capital—Bamenda. Nvivo was used for data management and subsequently, we performed thematic analysis using a critical discourse lens to generate manifest and latent interpretations of study findings. Results: The role of male partners reflected hegemonic masculinity and was broadly conceptualised in three categories: breadwinner, protector/comforter, and 'sender' for antenatal care. Perceptions of men's role differed between male and female participants. While women sought male involvement for pragmatic reasons like joint attendance of antenatal care, psychosocial support (affirmation) and assistance with domestic chores, men limited their involvement to roles that matched gendered preconceptions of masculinity like financial support for antenatal fees, maternal nutrition and birth supplies. Nonetheless, the perceived benefits for antenatal attendance was expressed by some men in terms of the direct access it gives them to pregnancy-related education from experts, paternal bonding and the appeal of fast-track services for couples. Conclusion: Male involvement in maternal and child health in Bamenda Health District is an extension and reflection of how patriarchal norms on masculinity are constructed and adapted in this setting. To address gaps in male involvement, intervention designers and implementers will need to take into account prevailing culture-specific norms while deconstructing and leveraging masculine ideals to situate male involvement in the prenatal context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We offer new insights into fatherhood by asking if the onset of paternity changes workplace productivity. We do this in the well‐monitored and high‐pressure setting of professional football using a novel dataset that matches 115 birth disclosures to the performance of 96 players. Our empirical approach involves specifying a performance equation for a suite of match‐level performance statistics and estimating OLS and Poisson fixed‐effect panel regressions. We find a negative correlation between fatherhood and collaborative performance as measured by expected assists—a player's ability to create goalscoring opportunities. We also report negative effects for the perinatal period for expected assists and passing measures. There is no evidence of performance changes resulting from expectancy news. As negative performance effects are observed in a context of ‘superstar wages’, this raises concerns for high‐pressure labour markets where workers are remunerated less but have low uptake of leave entitlements or where paternity leave is culturally taboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Methods Results Conclusion Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects an increasing number of women each year. Research involving partners of women with GDM, such as fathers is limited, however, understanding their perspectives and involvement in GDM management could enhance health outcomes for both women and their families. This study aims to explore the impact and experiences of GDM on fathers in the perinatal period.Qualitative, individual, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with individuals whose partners either currently had GDM or had been diagnosed with GDM within the past 3 years. All participants identified as biological fathers. Data were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Nine fathers participated in the study. Analysis resulted in four themes that explored fathers' experiences of GDM during the perinatal period: ‘navigating a GDM diagnosis’, ‘partnering in management and health’, ‘finding a place within the GDM journey’ and ‘the lasting impact of GDM’.Fathers encountered wide‐ranging impacts of their partners' GDM. Fathers provided both practical and emotional support to their partners. Engaging fathers in discussions at diagnosis and in management could facilitate the maintenance of positive health behaviour changes postpartum, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes for both parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino immigrants within the United States experience various stressors, which have been linked to the development and exacerbation of internalizing symptoms among Latino youth. Therefore, it is crucial to explore factors that may buffer the impact of stress among immigrant families. Fathers may influence child outcomes through positive parenting behaviors, yet Latino fathers have been underrepresented in research. This study examined how paternal warmth and support may moderate the association between the accumulation of stress and child internalizing symptoms among low‐income, Latino immigrant families. Participants included 62 children between the ages of 6 and 10, and their paternal caregivers (94% fathers; 90% born in Mexico). This study utilized a multi‐method approach including parent‐report, child‐report and observational measures. Participants completed questionnaires and video‐recorded family interaction tasks during home visits. Stress was positively associated with child‐reported depression. Self‐reported paternal warmth was associated with fewer parent‐reported child internalizing symptoms and moderated the effects of stress on symptoms. Analyses showed a significant positive association between paternal stress and child internalizing symptoms for children with the lowest levels of parental warmth. However, when paternal warmth was high, accumulation of stress and child internalizing symptoms were not related. Thus, high levels of warmth buffered the impact of stress on internalizing symptoms. This study highlights the importance of Latino fathers' parenting behaviors on child internalizing symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite proven efficacy, fatherhood interventions face challenges in attracting and retaining participants. This qualitative systematic review aims to inform the future design of fatherhood interventions by consolidating and synthesizing the evidence around fathers' experiences with interventions aimed at enhancing their involvement and relationships with their children. Following PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 10 studies from a search of six electronic databases. Our analysis coalesced into three pivotal themes: (a) creating a sense of belonging: facilitating participation; (b) transformative takeaways; and (c) challenges of negotiating expectations of masculinity. Our findings indicate that group‐based, culturally sensitive programs are advantageous but also reveal that fathers grapple with reconciling evolving fatherhood roles with societally entrenched expectations of masculinity. This review offers actionable insights for the future development, evaluation, and implementation of fatherhood interventions, particularly those utilizing qualitative research methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant program is one of the most robust mechanisms supporting fatherhood programming in the United States, with the gold standard of care including fatherhood curriculum (e.g., 24/7 Dad®) and case management services. Despite the fact that fatherhood in the United States is not a monolith and Black fathers make up over 40% of those served through Responsible Fatherhood (RF) program, little research explicitly centers the lived experiences of low‐income Black fathers. The current study used focus groups with fathers (n = 23) and staff (n = 8) enrolled in a RF grantee program. Thematic analysis was used to determine programmatic mechanisms supporting these fathers' success and areas for improvement. Our findings highlight that the creation of a "safe space" by facilitators and the power of the group dynamic were essential elements for fathers' success overall. We also identified numerous programmatic mechanisms supporting Black fathers' success specific to fathering, healthy relationships, and economic stability. Finally, we highlighted important limitations that may impede the success of low‐income, Black fathers related to the 24/7 Dad® curriculum, engagement efforts, and economic stability, and discuss related practice, policy, and research recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluations of interventions to promote fathers' involvement in family life typically focus on whether or not the intervention has a positive impact. Some evaluations also attempt to describe mediators that explain how the intervention is linked to specific outcomes. An evaluation of TRUE Dads, a Randomized Clinical Trial of a couples‐based fatherhood intervention for low‐income families, reported results that addressed these two issues. Reporting new analyses, the present study addresses a question asked in only a very few fatherhood intervention studies: Are there moderator variables that define characteristics of participants who benefit most or least from the intervention? A total of 46 potential moderators of 2 significant intervention outcomes – reductions in personal distress and in negative evaluations of the parents' relationship with each other – were selected from a 5‐domain risk/protective model of family functioning (Cowan & Cowan, 2018. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 92, 111) and from a set of demographic variables associated with these outcomes. An additional 24 potential moderators were tested on 4 outcomes that did not have direct intervention effects. Only 6 of the 70 moderator tests were statistically significant. The intervention provided greater reductions in parents' personal distress when fathers had more economic resources, co‐parents had higher levels of education, and the parents were living in the same household on entering the study. There were greater reductions in negative aspects of their couple or co‐parenting relationship when the parents at enrollment described more difficulties in the parent–child relationship, fathers were more involved in the children's daily care and were living in the household with their child. No other moderators were found. The results support the conclusion that TRUE Dads was equally effective for a relatively wide range of participants. This search for potential moderators of TRUE Dads outcomes is presented as an example of a needed direction in the evaluation of fatherhood interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of fathers has gained significant traction over recent decades. However, the experience for men over the transition to parenthood remains focused on high‐socioeconomic and socially advantaged fathers. Researchers have yet to thoroughly investigate how fathers may uniquely experience this transition period with a history of childhood maltreatment, given that childhood abuse is known to impact several components of development and relationship functioning into adulthood. The current study endeavored to fill this gap by evaluating the associations between fathers' childhood experiences of physical and emotional abuse and their relationship functioning over the transition to parenthood in terms of both the couple relationship and social adjustment in relationships with others. Using data from 399 fathers who participated in a randomized control trial during pregnancy, the results from stepwise regressions indicate fathers with a history of emotional abuse experience particular declines in their external relationships (reductions in social support and increases in social stress) from prenatal (Wave 1) to postpartum (Wave 2) reports. However, no significant association emerged between fathers' history of maltreatment and their relationship functioning with their partners. These results underscore the importance of investigating the impact of different types of abuse on men in fatherhood. Moreover, we emphasize the need to study further fathers' social adjustment over the transition to parenthood beyond the couple relationship and broad social support to address the needs of men with a history of maltreatment in their new role as fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on Israeli single gay fathers' reproductive choices. Thematic analysis of 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Israeli single gay fathers yielded two themes related to their reproductive choice. The first theme pertains to their decision to become single fathers. Three dimensions were prominent in the participants' decision to pursue lone parenthood: the choice to fulfill parenthood as gay men; the choice to separate parenthood from couplehood; and the view of single parenthood as empowerment. The second theme pertained to the fathers' decision to use surrogacy, which was influenced by three key factors: the desire to parent a biological child, the desire for exclusive fatherhood, and the perceived advantages of surrogacy for single fathers. The findings indicate that the fathers narrated their reproductive experiences in terms of choice and autonomy, while negotiating with dominant concepts of parenthood as a two-parent, heteronormative and biogenetic phenomenon. These men referred to the challenge they posed to some of these concepts and the social barriers they encountered as factors that facilitated their coping skills in lone parenthood, thereby enhancing their agency. These findings highlight the contextual, multidimensional and relational nature of the reproductive choices of men from minority groups like single gay fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iceland has prioritized the importance of active fatherhood through the implementation of public policies that encourage men to be actively involved in caregiving. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, fathers in Iceland were excluded from various aspects of maternity care as a measure to reduce the spread of the virus. In order to explore how parents experienced these strict COVID-19 restrictions, which prevented fathers from being present at community healthcare clinic visits, screening scans during pregnancy, and sometimes limited their participation in the birth of their child, the study conducted focus group interviews with 27 parents who had a child in 2021. The participants in the focus groups perceived pregnancy and birth as a shared experience that both parents were equally invested in. Consequently, most of them took proactive measures to ensure that fathers could be present despite the restrictions. The findings indicate that the global pandemic, with its imminent threat and crisis, led to a setback in promoting involved fatherhood. This highlights the tensions between the maternity care services driven by experts and the public's perspectives on the needs of parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison to resident fathers, non-resident fathers face formidable challenges in maintaining a consistent presence in their children's lives. Such challenges tend to exist on multiple contextual levels--intrapersonal, interpersonal, neighborhood, community, cultural, and societal. We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with a sample of eight participants who identified as an African American, biological, non-resident father to at least one child, ages 5–17. We explored barriers and facilitators to their involvement on five contextual levels—self, co-parenting, family, social/community, and societal. We employed a phenomenological methodology which revealed numerous barriers to involvement with children, including the father's own personal lived experiences, conflictual co-parenting and family dynamics, engagement in the street lifestyle, and challenges with parenting across multiple households. Findings also revealed several supports to involvement with children, including the father's determination to be involved and growth mindset toward fathering, positive and supportive co-parenting relationships, family support, and fatherhood programs. The results of this study are intended to provide contextually-based insights for service providers that can be translated into service delivery and applied to programs that focus on eliminating barriers and increasing supports to father involvement, thereby improving child well-being and enhancing family functioning. Highlights: Using a phenomenological methodology, we identified barriers and supports to non-resident African American father involvement with children. Barriers and supports existed on four contextual levels: (1) self, (2) co-parenting, (3) family, and (4) social and community. Barriers included the father's lived experiences (i.e., parenting fears and insecurities and incarceration), co-parenting and family dynamics (i.e., co-parenting conflict and parenting across multiple households), and the street lifestyle. Facilitators included the father's determination to be involved, a growth mindset, positive and supportive co-parenting relationships, family support, and fatherhood programs. We offer a conceptual ecological framework to assist service providers in their work with non-resident African American fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide population of migrant families is on the rise, and there is growing acknowledgement of the significance of supporting parental mental health within these families. However, understanding of the experiences of migrant fathers during the perinatal period remains incomplete. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of existing research on perinatal migrant fathers' experiences in different cultures. Multiple searches were conducted in April 2023 for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies across six electronic databases: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. Fourteen eligible articles were identified, including nine qualitative studies, five quantitative studies, and no mixed-methods studies. The Mixed-methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of these studies. The quantitative findings were transformed into narrative summaries to be analysed thematically along with the qualitative data. Three themes were identified: (1) Cultural competence (dealing with cultural differences, needs related to original country); (2) Parenthood in a new country (challenges and adaptation to fatherhood, challenging traditional gender norms, lack of extended family and building new support networks, being the main supporter for the family); (3) Needs of the fathers and their personal difficulties. The findings of this review suggest a direction for future research in perinatal psychology. The review also provides insights into the need for social and community support for migrant fathers and how healthcare services can support this group during the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building upon scholarship examining representations of gendered characters in Caldecott Medal-winning books, this contemporary content analysis offers a critical investigation of fatherhood portrayals in American children's literature. Guided by Critical Multicultural Analysis, this study explores the ways in which father characters are depicted in a sample of 38 award-winning children's picture books from 2001 to 2020. Despite evolving roles, responsibilities, and expectations of fathers in American society, findings of this study indicated that representations of fathers have remained relatively static over the last two decades of award-winning picture books. Results show fathers most often in the roles of nurturer, companion, and caregiver, although the actual behaviors they engage in are reflective of heteronormative gender-stereotypical parenting patterns. Additionally, most father characters are depicted as White and heterosexual. Results of this analysis present a limited view of fatherhood that further perpetuates the peripheral role father characters play in children's literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of masculinities, and its intersection with psychology, has been a significant area of inquiry in South Africa. This article examines the development of masculinities scholarship in South Africa by analysing articles published in the South African Journal of Psychology between 1994 and 2024. Of the 165 gender-related articles published in the South African Journal of Psychology during this time, 66 specifically focused on men and masculinities. Utilizing Foucauldian Discourse Analysis, these articles were examined to identify three prominent discourses: (1) gender, sexuality, and violence; (2) health and wellness; and (3) fatherhood. The findings of the analysis reveal a discernible shift in the discourses surrounding masculinities over the last three decades. Specifically, there is a movement away from essentialist constructions of masculinity, towards more positive and egalitarian perspectives of masculinities that are non-hegemonic, non-violent, and non-risktaking. The study's findings have significant implications for future research on masculinities in South Africa, particularly in the areas of decolonial African-centred masculinities studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do fathers adjust their working hours after the birth of their first child? Though the impact of childbirth on women's employment is well-established, less is known about its effect on fathers. We investigate this question in the Netherlands (2006–2017), a country characterized by high prevalence of part-time work. We focus on two contexts that might shape the extent to which first-time fathers reduce their working hours after childbirth: the household and the organization. For this purpose, we use detailed longitudinal register data. The results reveal that men's employment displays a high degree of stability around childbirth: even in the Dutch "part-time economy," the vast majority of fathers remain full-time employed. We do find substantial heterogeneity in labor market responses after childbirth. Fathers earning relatively less than their partner pre-childbirth are more likely to scale down their working hours. The organizational gender composition is also associated with work hours reductions following childbirth. Although we find that fathers' employment is contingent on both the household and organizational context, the substantial stability in men's labor supply remains an obstacle to a more equal division of (un)paid labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article consider how zine making might be understood as a participatory and DIY approach to research through a focus on zine making workshops with young fathers. Drawing upon Fletcher's conceptualisation of 'zine ethos', zines' DIY ethic, their democratic and participatory ideal and their transformative potential will each be considered reflexively, highlighting some of the ways these might be enacted through zine making in the context of research but also potentially constrained. This article extends existing empirical work concerning zines in the context of research and offers some fresh reflections on their value as a participatory and DIY approach to research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article explores the concept of compassion in paternal figures and its power as depicted in two classic literary works: Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country. The study examines how these fathers, Atticus Finch and Stephen Kumalo, demonstrate empathy, understanding, and love in the face of adversity. These characters exemplify compassion and moral integrity amid social injustices. Through a comparative analysis, this article investigates how their acts of compassion shape the narrative and convey deeper societal messages about race, justice, and empathy. By examining the similarities and differences in the portrayal of these father figures, this research highlights the importance of compassion and ethical responsibility in fostering positive social change. In conclusion, this study underscores the enduring relevance of empathy and moral integrity in addressing social injustices and fostering a more equitable and compassionate society. This study reveals the significance of compassion and ethical responsibility in driving positive social change, shedding light on their lasting impact on shaping the destinies of individuals and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore intrinsic and extrinsic factors that help nonresident fathers' continuing relationships with their children. Background: Research on nonresident fathers tends to focus on rates or trajectories of contact and the perspectives or experiences of children or others and highlights significant barriers to development and maintenance of relationships between nonresident fathers and their children. What helps the growth and development of nonresident fathers' relationships with their children are less well understood and less frequently researched. This research sought to fill the gap in the literature of what is known that helps nonresident fathers maintain meaningful relationships with their children. Method: A qualitative research approach was chosen using thematic analysis of semistructured, in‐depth interviews. Recruitment was via social media and community sites targeting nonresident fathers after divorce. Results: Participants highlighted deep commitment to ongoing fathering and a deep desire for meaningful relationships with children. The experience of divorce had a highly negative impact, but some positives emerged that enhanced their relationship. Significant others played contingent roles helping participants improve their relationships with their children. Conclusion: Continuity of relationships with children was the direct result of participants' actions to remain involved and their ongoing commitment to their children through strong and unwavering fatherhood role salience. These factors, together with actions for self‐improvement, managing change, and fostering cooperative relationships with relevant others, helped fathers maintain positive engagement and relationships with their children. Implications: The nonresident fathers in this study relied on their own initiatives, resilience, and resources to remain engaged with their children. Policies and programs should respond to and encourage the development of policies and programs that help nonresident fathers' relationships with children in practical and meaningful ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long focused on maternal roles in infancy, research is now exploring fathers' contributions to child development. Current public policy emphasizes early prevention and intervention for child and parent well‐being, especially for at‐risk infants such as those born prematurely. A literature review was conducted following the approach of a narrative review, to examine fatherhood in the context of preterm birth, highlighting the stress and emotional vulnerability experienced by fathers of preterm infants. Promoting early paternal presence and involvement in infant care helps fathers cope with this emotionally challenging experience. Despite limited data on premature fatherhood, fathers are active partners in dyadic interactions and play a significant role in their infant's neonatal intensive care unit journey and family dynamics. The discussion underscores the importance of father‐focused interventions and the paternal contribution to child development, framed within the authors' proposed integrative and developmental model of the family triad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In adoption, it is common to consider the adopted child, the adoptive parents, and the birth mother as part of the adoption galaxy. Yet, birth fathers are often missing elements in adoption‐focused research. This article aims to comprehensively understand the current knowledge regarding birth fathers' experiences in adoption. Adapting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses approach, this review identified 100 peer‐reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2022 on birth fathers in adoption. This article used a mixed‐methods approach to analyze the landscape of the current research. Quantitative analysis confirmed that birth fathers in adoption are under‐researched worldwide. In the qualitative analysis, the following themes emerged regarding birth fathers: a lack of openness, negative stereotypes, gatekeeping, and emotional impacts. The findings demonstrate the importance of considering the wishes and support needs of birth fathers when their child is being placed for adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there has been considerable research on women and motherhood during the Holocaust, scholars have paid less attention to fatherhood. This article explores the experiences of Jewish fathers in the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust and sheds light on the roles and challenges they encountered in the face of extreme adversity as documented in their diaries. Many fathers, who traditionally had not been involved in household chores and childcare before the war, found themselves taking on these responsibilities in the ghetto. Harsh conditions and constant threats forced fathers to adapt to and take on new roles, both physically and emotionally. These roles included providing for their families, as well as nurturing their children's well-being, both physically and psychologically. A close examination of the diaries of fathers in the Warsaw ghetto reveals their struggles to protect and care for their children amid an intimidating reality. The diaries convey a range of emotions, including fear, frustration, guilt, and love, and demonstrate the profound impact of their traumatic experiences on their sense of self. Fatherhood emerges as a dynamic construct shaped by circumstances, with extreme events requiring fathers to adapt and balance traditional roles with new challenges to protect their families. These diaries provide a unique perspective on how fatherhood was redefined and tested in the collapsing Warsaw ghetto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, content creators on noninstitutional social media platforms, collectively known as zimeiti, have sparked fervent discussions about "widow-style parenting." This term is used to describe the lack of paternal involvement in childcare. Using feminist critical discourse analysis, this study explores how widow-style parenting is discussed in the context of popular feminism in China. Rhetorically, zimeiti articles aim to promote a more equal division of childcare between parents and reshape traditional masculinity. However, they fall short of achieving this goal because they endorse gender essentialism. This means they place the blame on mothers and reinforce their self-denial and burden. Interestingly, the reader comments challenge this discourse by questioning the structural gender inequality and demanding a change in the grueling work culture in China. These points are often overlooked by the articles because of their commercialized and depoliticized nature. The interaction between zimeiti articles and readers creates a dynamic space that both reinforces and challenges existing gender norms in parenting. This study is the first to investigate how ordinary people respond to popular feminism on social media in China. It enriches our understanding of emerging popular feminism and the evolving dynamics of family relationships in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Russell and the Women" published in the journal "Russell: The Journal of Bertrand Russell Studies" explores Bertrand Russell's relationships with women, both personal and professional, focusing on neglected women philosophers in his circle. The essays in the collection examine Russell's romantic relationships, contributions of women philosophers like Alice Ambrose and Dorothy Wrinch, and Russell's feminist commitments. The authors analyze Russell's moral accountability, feminist views, and interactions with women philosophers, shedding light on the complex dynamics of power, influence, and recognition in Russell's relationships with women in philosophy. [Extracted from the article]

How can you be a good parent to a child who, with the current speed of global warming, will likely live their adult life in a world ravaged by floods, wildfires, and pandemics? In the absence of scholarship that centres the question of how to be a good parent in times of climate change, fictional literature can provide a way to explore this dilemma. This article analyzes how parenthood is conceptualized in relation to environmental consciousness as well as gendered and national ideals of good parenthood in two contemporary Swedish climate change novels, Jens Liljestrand’s Även om allt tar slut (Even If Everything Ends) and Anna Dahlqvist’s Det är tropiska nätter nu (Now We Have Tropical Nights). Liljestrand’s novel depicts how ideals anchored in Swedish family politics trump environmental consciousness when it comes to good parenthood, and it suggests that parents need to take responsibility for the climate crisis. The climate-friendly motherhood represented in Dahlqvist’s novel fails, but it also challenges Swedish family ideals and is in some respects an answer to the call in Liljestrand’s novel: that parents take responsibility for climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study examined the transmission of gender within the family through perceptions of parenting in low‐ and middle‐income families. Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. Participants were determined by criterion sampling method. Data were collected from 60 participants, including 20 families (mother–father–child) representing low (10 families) and middle (10 families) socio‐economic levels. The study reveals that there is a need for social intervention in both socio‐economic contexts. The findings of the study showed that the gendered interactions of parents living in both socio‐economic contexts within the family had effects on children's perceptions and experiences. In the study, parents in both socio‐economic contexts characterized motherhood as sacrifice, caregiving, and fertility and fatherhood as authority, power, income, and security provider. Children, on the other hand, defined motherhood as providing care, fertility, and being responsible for household chores and fatherhood as providing income, meeting needs, and having a profession. A striking result of the study is that although both parents were employed, children preferred to use expressions related to the fathers' professional life while defining parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates representations of single fathers in major Swedish newspapers 2010–2020, the gendered meanings of these constructions, and how they relate to gendered and socio-historically specific situations of single parents in Sweden. In newspapers, the term “single father” is broadly used to reference different familial situations, ranging from “only parent” to “co-parent.” There is no vilification of single fathers as a group or as individuals, which stands out in international comparison but is consistent with dominant discourses on single parenthood – and fathers – in Sweden. Single fathers are represented as successfully combining breadwinning and caregiving, flexible in their management of time-with-children, and reflexive regarding their parenthood. Overall, newspapers construct (good) single fathers as spending substantial time with their children and demonstrating “temporal conscience.” Seen against demographic statistics, two results stand out: first, that there are so few single fathers in the dailies, and second, that there is an overrepresentation of fathers with sole residential custody, and of fathers who share residential custody equally with a mother. These representations result in an exaggerated picture of single fathers’ time and engagement with children, which speaks to national father-friendly and gender-equality-oriented family policy and ideals of fatherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on missional parenting and fatherhood. In the 21st century, families are undergoing multiple crises, with many of them experiencing the absence of a fatherly presence. As a result, numerous missiologists emphasise the role of church as the vision of God's mission (missio Dei). The church is compelled to support parents in nurturing their children in faith. The term "missional" has a profound meaning; it is not merely a Christian buzzword or catchphrase for families to appear spiritual. Missional is an activity of God, rooted in Scripture and modelled by Christ. Missional parenting involves parents modelling and educating children in God's compassion for people. Missional fatherhood signifies that fathers should lead sacrificial lives for the sake of their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study describes the development, acceptability, and implementation of an interactive text messaging program to engage fathers enrolled in home visitation programs. Methods: We used an iterative development approach that integrated rapid testing of intervention content with acceptability feedback from program participants to examine the processes of implementation. In Study 1, we describe the rapid testing framework and present data from 171 men who provided feedback on Text4Dad content via three online surveys. In Study 2, a case study, we use administrative data from 108 fathers with whom we pilot-tested Text4Dad in three community-based home visiting programs, with the program implemented by fatherhood program community health workers (F-CHWs). Content analysis of exchanges between F-CHWs and fathers describes the specific use of Text4Dad. Results: Across all three online surveys, fathers reported positive reviews of the Text4Dad content. The F-CHWs used Text4Dad mainly to push out information, especially that related to home visit scheduling and local events, instead of engaging in bidirectional interactions with fathers. Conclusions for Practice: We conclude with a set of recommendations for social service and maternal and child health providers regarding the feasibility of implementing text messaging to support home visiting in community-based settings. Significance: What is Already Known on this Subject?: In leveraging mobile technology for behavioral change, there has been a proliferation of text messaging parenting interventions. Innovative texting and technology-focused programs for fathers have been developed and implemented, with a focus on improving fathering quality, father-child interactions, program fidelity, and measures relevant to the duration, timing, and context of programs. That said, the effectiveness of these programs has been challenging to ascertain and compare, given and unique programmatic aspects of each intervention and lack of robust program evaluation designs. What this Study adds?: Most father-inclusive text messaging interventions are stand-alone programs. Importantly, Text4Dad is one of the first programs to serve as an add-on to an existing community-based home visitation model, with the goal of engaging fathers who are from low-income contexts and receiving in-home visits. This initial implementation study shows the promise of a low-cost and mentor-based text messaging program that is appealing and useful for fathers and male CHWs serving them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a neglected context for understanding the ontology and epistemology of race in Shakespeare's drama: the role of the midwife. Early modern midwives performed an important cultural function by not only assisting women in labour, but also pronouncing the sex and paternity of a newborn. As Caroline Bicks has shown, this was a time when a midwife was thought to have significant influence over how a body was literally shaped and interpreted at the moment of its birth, thereby determining its reception in the community. Nowhere in Shakespeare's canon is the midwife's authority more manifest – and threatening – than in Titus Andronicus, where the midwife's role includes establishing an infant's race. After Tamora, Empress of Rome, delivers a baby fathered by her lover, Aaron 'the Moor', he asks: 'How many saw the child?' By subsequently killing the birth attendants, Aaron calls attention to how controlling the destiny of his son will depend upon rewriting the script of his nativity. Merging critical interest in early modern childbirth with Shakespeare scholarship on race and performance, I show how newly born bodies are midwived into racialized subjects, illuminating how midwifery discourses can broaden our understanding of early modern racecraft. My specific claim is that the statements made by Tamora's nurse concerning Aaron's 'black' son can be read as a performative utterance that confers, constitutes and attempts to naturalize the newborn's raced identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper underlines the importance of accounting for non‐base compensation in explaining the motherhood wage gap. We consider two alternative measures of hourly wage using Italian EU‐SILC data from 2007 to 2019: the base‐wage and the full‐wage. The former refers to the contractual base wage, while the latter includes performance‐based bonuses, productivity bonuses, commissions, pay incentives, and other extra payments. We address the endogeneity issues of motherhood and examine the effect of motherhood status across various quantiles of the wage distribution for the two hourly wage measures. Empirical findings provide evidence of a motherhood base‐wage premium, which becomes nonsignificant when using the full‐wage measure, suggesting that non‐base compensation is a source of inequality for mothers. These findings are consistent across the wage distribution. Exploring potential heterogeneity across macro‐regions and periods, we find no notable regional disparities except minor distinctions for the Southern regions, alongside a decline in the base‐wage premium over time and the emergence of a full‐wage penalty in recent years. A comparative analysis with a sample of men reveals that fathers enjoy a premium with both wage measures. Nevertheless, fatherhood is also associated with reduced extra remunerations, yet to a lesser extent than motherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study investigates the factors influencing Thai fathers' involvement in early childhood Childcare. In the quantitative phase (n = 230), fathers' involvement in Childcare was assessed using a Childcare involvement scale to identify key contributing factors. The qualitative phase (n = 20) further elaborated on these quantitative findings through content analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that fathers' perceived Childcare skills, division of Childcare responsibilities, and marital satisfaction explained 53% (p <.001) of the variance in paternal involvement. The qualitative phase expanded on these findings, identifying fathers' involvement experiences, and revealing three central themes: responsible involvement, father–child interaction, and discipline training. These results offer valuable insights for health care professionals into the support needs of Thai fathers engaged in Childcare, facilitating better strategies for encouraging active fatherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming a father is a critical period of life transition. Evidence suggests that a lifetime history of mental health disorder/s and elevated depressive symptoms prior to conception increase risk for men's post-natal depression. Less is understood about the role of positive mental health, or wellbeing, as a protective factor for future depressive outcomes during the transition to fatherhood. The present study investigated whether men's post-natal depressive outcomes were associated with pre-conception levels of wellbeing and whether wellbeing during the post-natal period predicted depressive outcomes post-infancy. Secondary analysis of data from a national, longitudinal cohort study of men's health, namely, The Ten to Men (TTM) Study, was conducted. Participants in the pre-conception sample were n = 350 men for whom data were available at both a pre-conception baseline and post-natal follow-up period. The post-natal sample were n = 427 men with post-natal baseline data and post-infancy follow-up data. Multivariate negative binomial regressions and logistic regression models were used to determine pre-conception and post-natal predictors of future depressive outcomes. Men's pre-conception depressive symptoms were the best predictor of post-natal depressive symptoms (IRR = 1.089, p < 0.001) and risk of moderate-severe depression (IRR = 1.193, p = 0.005) the latter of which was also predicted by a previous mental health diagnosis (IRR = 3.079, p = 0.029). Similarly, post-natal depressive symptoms were the best predictor of post-infancy depressive symptoms (IRR = 1.089, p < 0.001) and risk of moderate-severe depression (IRR = 1.193, p = 0.005) alongside lifetime prevalence of a mental health disorder (symptoms: IRR = 1.317, p = 0.011; moderate-severe depression: IRR = 2.606, p = 0.023). Pre-conception levels of wellbeing predicted lower post-natal depressive symptoms (IRR = 0.988, p < 0.001) and reduced risk of moderate-severe depression (IRR = 0.940, p = 0.002) after controlling for baseline symptoms and socio-demographic and behavioural confounds; however, wellbeing during the post-natal period did not predict either of the depressive outcomes post-infancy. Fatherhood-specific risk factors for mental health outcomes (e.g., conception difficulties, maternal post-natal mental health) were not assessed in the present study, and only one aspect of wellbeing was captured. Screening for history of common mental health disorders and current symptoms is recommended to inform preventative approaches to paternal mental health care during early fatherhood. Inclusion of wellbeing in such screening procedures may be beneficial; however, further research is required to elucidate the prospective associations between wellbeing and depressive symptoms during the transition to fatherhood. • Approximately 1 in 10 men screen positive for depression in the postnatal period. • Future depressive outcomes are best predicted by prior mental ill-health. • Preconception wellbeing protective against postnatal depressive outcomes • Postnatal wellbeing not associated with depressive outcomes post-infancy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study focuses on Latino fathers and investigates the role that cultural concepts and fatherhood identity play in the stigma associated with having a child with a disability. Disability stigma is a widely held concept that acknowledges the role of culture; however, there is a lack of information on Latino fathers. Using a panel survey provider a US cross‐sectional survey was completed by 92 Latino fathers who had a child with a disability. Multiple regression was used to investigate the relationship of cultural Latino constructs (personalismo, machismo, caballerismo and respeto) and fatherhood identity on the stigma experiences of Latino fathers who have a child with a disability while controlling for the child's age and acculturation (R2 = 0.43, p < 0.001). Latino fathers with higher levels of personalismo (p = 0.05), and fatherhood identity (p < 0.001) had lower levels of stigma. Latino fathers with high levels of machismo had high levels of stigma (p < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between caballerismo and respeto towards stigma. Specific recommendations for Latino fathers include (1) the development of personalismo by focusing on the child–parent relationship; (2) a re‐frame of machismo to focus instead on caballerismo characteristics to de‐emphasize harmful effects on stigma experiences; and (3) heightening the identity as a father as a protective mechanism to strengthen resilience from stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into the challenges faced by Chinese migrant families in Portugal as they navigate Western norms while preserving their cultural heritage. It examines shifting gender roles in childcare, with women increasingly entering the workforce and men's expectations influenced by education and finances. The study underscores the impact of Confucian culture on migrants' perspectives and proposes solutions to address gender disparities. It also explores household responsibilities among dual-income couples in China, highlighting the influence of family dynamics and cultural norms on gender roles. The research sheds light on the complexities of cultural adaptation and family dynamics within immigrant communities, emphasizing the need to reevaluate gender norms and childcare practices among Chinese migrants in Portugal. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper I will engage with a position Felicity Kaganas has often elaborated upon, and with which I agree, namely, that lawmakers often mistake law’s messaging for law’s power. In doing so I will focus on the law’s management of parental status and the performance of parental responsibility. I will argue that English law’s disaggregation of parental status and parental function should have enabled law to distance itself from involvement-by-presumption in the particularities of the disputes between parents and other carers about children, and enabled it to perform a better, more situation-sensitive role in the management of those disputes. It should have allowed for a more pragmatic, less ideological and generalised, decision-making process for particular disputes, and paid better attention to the actual children at the heart of those disputes. I argue that, given the limits of the power of law in resolving family disputes (which I also elaborate in the paper), law has a limited role in these situations. There are other orders of power – beyond law – which affect the way in which legal power works and may misdirect (or, at least, redirect) its ambitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the discourse about work-family balance in academia (and elsewhere) is generally framed as a woman's issue, this study focuses on the association between childbirth and the scholarly productivity of both academic women and men. In particular, the authors examine whether the association between parenthood and scholarly productivity is contingent on gender and partner's employment status. Using German longitudinal data and addressing self-selection, results indicate the existence of a ‘parenthood premium’: scholarly productivity is higher for both fathers and mothers compared to their childless counterparts. Yet, academic fathers publish more than childless men and more than academic mothers, giving rise to a ‘fatherhood super-premium’. Additionally, the study reveals that the fatherhood super-premium is influenced by the employment status of the female partner, while this is not the case for academic mothers. Overall, the research highlights the importance of considering the division of labour within couples in understanding the gender gap in scholarly productivity and, ultimately, gender disparities in academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature about mothers and engaged fatherhood is expanding; however, current research focuses on breadwinner mothers living with stay-at-home fathers. Knowledge about the experiences of mothers who live with part-time working fathers is scarce. The current study focuses on Australian breadwinner mothers' experiences within such a family arrangement. Interviews with 15 mothers were analysed with Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Two themes emerged: (1) a recurrent contrast by mothers of their experiences at work and at home (the arrangement was described as contributing to their career, but as disrupting traditional mothering) and (2) a repeated comparison by mothers between themselves and their partners in relation to work and parenting (career was suggested as more important for participants, and fathers were suggested as being better suited for child-rearing). Both themes commonly and positively presented the family arrangement as well balanced. In their talk, participants balanced the family arrangement's flaws with its benefits. Furthermore, participants' positioning suggested an identification to an in-group which aligned to traditional motherhood while deviating from traditional feminine norms. As societal norms shift towards greater gender equality, this study helps increase awareness of the variety of contemporary mothering practices, by reporting experiences of mothers who adopt non-traditional mothering practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sweden, men's parental leave rights are considered important for realizing gender equality. Men have the same compensated leave rights as women: three months each of nontransferable and transferable leave. Nevertheless, less than 20% of couples share leave equally (each taking 40% or more of all leave days). Understanding the circumstances under which fathers take leave beyond nontransferable months is important if equality is to be realized, yet few studies investigate this. Our survey of human resource directors in Sweden's top companies revealed extended leave use was not normative for fathers’ and especially male top managers and aspects of the gendered culture and structure of work organizations were associated with less extended leave use. Company awareness of parental leaves benefits for the company was significantly and independently related to fathers’ and top male managers' extended leave use. Positive workplace attitudes and less job specialization increased fathers’ extended leave use. Companies’ setting fewer conditions encouraged more top male managers to take extended leave, as did a policy of managerial training to facilitate fathers’ leaves. Greater understanding of company barriers to fathers’ extended parental leave use may encourage companies to remove those barriers which can increase fathers’ use of extended parental leave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]