1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]he current study investigated the prospective relations between fathers’ presence and parenting, and children’s subsequent cognitive and behavioural functioning.» (p. 173)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The current sample included 138 families from lower to middle income backgrounds who participated in two waves of data collection: when children were in middle childhood and subsequently three to five years later in preadolescence.» (p. 173) « The study was carried out using data from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project (Schwartzman, Ledingham, & Serbin, 1985), an intergenerational study of low income Francophone families in Québec (Statistics Canada, 2007b).» (p. 175)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«An emerging body of research illustrates the connections between fathers and their children’s development. This topic is particularly relevant in Québec, a demographically and culturally unique province in which female lone parenthood is relatively common; this pattern is related to socioeconomic disadvantages that predict negative cognitive and behavioural outcomes in youth. [...] The results indicated that for girls only, fathers’ presence in middle childhood predicted fewer internalizing problems in preadolescence. For both boys and girls, fathers’ positive parental control predicted higher Performance IQ and fewer internalizing problems over six years later. These findings add to the increasing body of literature suggesting that fathers make important contributions to their children’s cognitive and behavioural functioning, and point to the benefits of developing policies that encourage fathers to spend time with their children (i.e., parental leave for men) and promote positive fathering and involvement through parenting courses.» (p. 173)