Page 160 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 160
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 158 namics in some top universities – see: Study International Staff, 2018), partici-
pate in the labour force and plan their professional careers. On the other hand,
these changes have not been always matched by active policies of integration of
fathers in family life, even though fathers should be viewed as complementa-
ry to mothers in children’s psychosocial development. In countries such as It-
aly, mainstream policies are still considering the mother as the leading figure
for children, while the father and grandparents are often relegated to a second
best position due to cultural or ideological reasons, which are nevertheless per-
sistent in Italy (Del Boca and Pasqua, 2010).
Children can benefit substantially from the presence of their fathers, par-
ticularly during their first years of life (Tamburlini, 2014). The lack of appropri-
ate practical solutions for fathers in Italy and in other European contexts, and
the objective difficulties to recognize the role of fathers at an institutional level,
are in the end penalising both their children and those mothers who are look-
ing for better opportunities and more visibility in the contemporary job mar-
ket. Such an issue is persistent in Italy, particularly when parents separate or
ask formally for child custody (Guidorzi, 2017).
By providing a substantial literature review, the present contribution
aims to recognize the role that fathers can play in the everyday life of their chil-
dren. At the same time, it shows that reality is often quite different, as it emerg-
es from a number of case studies that are discussed in the second part. Insights
contained in the present contribution should be of interest to policy makers in
family & health policies, social workers and experts in family law, as well as to
those interested in securing children’s well-being in contemporary societies.
Literature review
The literature review is informed by the following question: what does contem-
porary research tell us about the changing role of fathers in family life and their
involvement in the life of their children in the so-called advanced societies? By
reviewing a number of relevant studies, Sarkadi et al. (2007) find that there
is evidence in support of the positive influence of father engagement on off-
spring social, behavioural and psychological outcomes. Similarly, Lamb and
Tamis-Lemonda (2004) observe that fathers influence their children directly
through their behaviour and the attitudes and messages they convey.
Ryan et al. (2006) investigate parenting patterns among low-income cou-
ples and their impact on children’s cognitive outcomes: they find that chil-
dren with supportive parents have on average higher results in mental devel-
opment indexes compared to children with non-supportive parents. They also
find that, in this sense, children benefit from having at least one supportive
parent, regardless of parent gender. They conclude that studies on parenting
and child development should ideally investigate mother and father behaviour
in concert.
pate in the labour force and plan their professional careers. On the other hand,
these changes have not been always matched by active policies of integration of
fathers in family life, even though fathers should be viewed as complementa-
ry to mothers in children’s psychosocial development. In countries such as It-
aly, mainstream policies are still considering the mother as the leading figure
for children, while the father and grandparents are often relegated to a second
best position due to cultural or ideological reasons, which are nevertheless per-
sistent in Italy (Del Boca and Pasqua, 2010).
Children can benefit substantially from the presence of their fathers, par-
ticularly during their first years of life (Tamburlini, 2014). The lack of appropri-
ate practical solutions for fathers in Italy and in other European contexts, and
the objective difficulties to recognize the role of fathers at an institutional level,
are in the end penalising both their children and those mothers who are look-
ing for better opportunities and more visibility in the contemporary job mar-
ket. Such an issue is persistent in Italy, particularly when parents separate or
ask formally for child custody (Guidorzi, 2017).
By providing a substantial literature review, the present contribution
aims to recognize the role that fathers can play in the everyday life of their chil-
dren. At the same time, it shows that reality is often quite different, as it emerg-
es from a number of case studies that are discussed in the second part. Insights
contained in the present contribution should be of interest to policy makers in
family & health policies, social workers and experts in family law, as well as to
those interested in securing children’s well-being in contemporary societies.
Literature review
The literature review is informed by the following question: what does contem-
porary research tell us about the changing role of fathers in family life and their
involvement in the life of their children in the so-called advanced societies? By
reviewing a number of relevant studies, Sarkadi et al. (2007) find that there
is evidence in support of the positive influence of father engagement on off-
spring social, behavioural and psychological outcomes. Similarly, Lamb and
Tamis-Lemonda (2004) observe that fathers influence their children directly
through their behaviour and the attitudes and messages they convey.
Ryan et al. (2006) investigate parenting patterns among low-income cou-
ples and their impact on children’s cognitive outcomes: they find that chil-
dren with supportive parents have on average higher results in mental devel-
opment indexes compared to children with non-supportive parents. They also
find that, in this sense, children benefit from having at least one supportive
parent, regardless of parent gender. They conclude that studies on parenting
and child development should ideally investigate mother and father behaviour
in concert.
