About this session

Thursday, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Fatherhood in Focus: From Parenting Characteristics to Parenting Contributions

Fathers play a multifaceted role in their children’s development, often navigating complex social, racial, and familial dynamics. Addressing this gap, this symposium centers on understanding the parenting contribution of fathers in promoting a positive father-child relationship by focusing on parenting strategies, father’s residential status, closeness, and school involvement. Fathers have historically been understudied, yet they play a crucial parenting role in fostering positive developmental outcomes among youth. Paper 1 investigates how a father’s residential status and relationship with their child influence youth outcomes in the face of family structure transitions. Paper 2 examines how the intergenerational role of closeness influences Black fathers' racialized and general paternal identity. Paper 3 explores how Black fathers’ parental characteristics shape their ethnic-racial socialization. Paper 4 highlights how Black fathers are involved and engaged in their children’s education.
Together, these papers capture the complexity of the paternal role and influence within families and schools and underscore fathers’ role as critical agents for their children’s developmental outcomes. By examining these key parenting processes—characteristics, contribution, strategies, closeness, and educational involvement—this symposium provides a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how fathers challenge stereotypes and highlights their central role as agents of support and resilience. Additionally, beyond the substantive scientific contribution of this symposium, the papers reflect a collaborative approach to examining the father, with scholars representing various universities, professional stages (graduate students, postdoc, assistant professor, senior scholars), and disciplines (Psychology; Human Development, Education), with early career scholars leading each paper.

Paper #1
Title	Fathers in Family Structure Transitions, Father-Child Relationship, and Youth Behavior Outcomes in Low-Income Families
Presenting author	Yeqing Li, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States

Paper #2
Title	Intergenerational Pathways: Exploring African American Father-Child Relationships, Fatherhood Identity, and Private and Public Regard
Presenting author	Victoria H. Cooper-Roundy, University of Arizona, United States

Paper #3
Title	African American Fathers' Parenting Ideologies, Racialized Experiences, and Racial Socialization Messages
Presenting author	Deon Brown, University of Houston, United States

Paper #4
Title	Exploring School Involvement Profiles of Black Fathers: A Person-Centered Approach
Presenting author	Dr. Stephen Gibson, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, United States

View all paper details

Session chair
Dr. Stephen Micheal Gibson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States

⇦ Back to schedule