NO FATHER LEFT BEHIND: EXPLORING POSITIVE FATHER INVOLVEMENT AS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR IN THE PREVENTION OF ADVERSE CHILD OUTCOMES

本研究将使用儿童虐待和忽视纵向研究(LONGSCAN)的数据来检验父亲参与在降低低收入家庭的忽视风险和不良儿童结局中的作用。本研究的具体目的是(1)检验低收入家庭中父亲参与(身体照顾、情感支持、陪伴、经济支持)与儿童幸福感(身体健康、内化和外化行为、社会能力)之间的直接和间接关系；(2)考察父亲参与与儿童幸福感之间的双向关系。将测试的间接影响是忽视风险因素(母亲的社会支持、疏忽的育儿行为和家庭功能)。随着时间的推移，考察父母之间的冲突在儿童结局中所起的作用也是很有意义的。这篇论文研究了父亲因素、儿童忽视风险，以及与服务不足和研究不足的人群(例如低收入家庭和父亲)有关的儿童发展问题。了解这些关系为制定和实施以证据为基础的儿童心理健康计划奠定了基础，该计划将父亲作为保护因素。

This dissertation study will use data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) to examine the role of father involvement in the reduction of neglect risk and adverse child outcomes among low-income families. The specific aims guiding this dissertation study are (1) to test the direct and indirect relationships between father involvement (physical care, emotional support, companionship, and financial support) and child well-being (physical health, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and social competence) among low-income families at risk for neglect; (2) Examine the bidirectional relationship between father involvement and child well-being. The indirect effects that will be tested are neglect risk factors (maternal social support, neglectful parenting behaviors, and household family functioning). It is also of interest to examine the role interparental conflict plays in child outcomes over time. This dissertation study addresses father factors, child neglect risk, and child developmental issues related to underserved and understudied populations (e.g., low-income families and fathers). Understanding these relationships sets the stage for the development and implementation of evidence-based child mental health programs that include fathers as a protective factor.