1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«In this study, [authors] applied an extended TPB [Theory of Planned Behavior] model to examine the factors that account for men’s prenatal intention to be involved and actual involvement in childcare […].» (p. 16)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Study hypotheses essentially follow the proposed extended model of TPB of an indirect effect of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on father participation in childcare, through prenatal childcare involvement intentions. Fathers’ more positive prenatal attitudes regarding parenting and fatherhood, subjective norms favoring father involvement, and greater perceived behavioral control are expected to explain greater prenatal childcare involvement intentions.» (p. 16)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Three hundred heterosexual couples were recruited through prenatal classes in a large predominantly francophone city in the province of Quebec, Canada. Cohabitating couples expecting their first child were eligible for the study. […] Of the initial sample of 300 couples, both parents completed the second questionnaire in 196 couples, as well as 24 fathers and 29 mothers, whose partner did not participate at Time 2. Thus, at least one member of 249 couples (83% of the eligible sample) provided Time 2 data. […] Mean age was 32 years for men […] and 29 years for women […].» (p. 17)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«The results of the present study partially support the predictive model postulated by the extended TPB with respect to father involvement in childcare. Future fathers’ attitudes and perceived behavioral control regarding father involvement are associated with their childcare involvement intentions. Biological essentialism is the only attitude that contributes significantly to fathers’ prenatal intentions. Consistent with previous studies conducted after the birth of a child […], the present study underlines that this association is present even before the arrival of a first child. In contrast, gender ideology does not significantly contribute to explaining fathers’ childcare involvement intentions. […] The present results, nonetheless, concur with those of Gaunt (2006), who considered both sets of attitudes and also noted a significant contribution of biological essentialism, but not of gender ideology. Future fathers’ role importance and perceived consequences of father involvement do not uniquely contribute to explaining prenatal intentions. Men’s subjective norms regarding father involvement are correlated with their intentions to be involved in childcare. Men surrounded by a social message promoting father involvement are more likely to expect to be more involved in child-related tasks. Nonetheless, when all possible predictors are considered, subjective norms are no longer associated with intentions.» (p. 22)