Fatherhood Research Bullen Australian Fatherhood Research Network Bullen 47, May 2019 The Bullen is produced by A/Prof Richard Fletcher (editor), Dr Elaine Benne, Dr Elisabeth Duursma, Dr Jacqui MacDonald, Dr Dawson Cooke, Dr Jennifer StGeorge & Associate Prof Campbell Paul and Miranda Cashin. We acknowledge the support of The Family Acon Centre, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle D ADS and PLA Y GROUPS Arnolds Creek Playgroup photo courtesy Melton City Council and Playgroups Victoria
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Fatherhood Research Bulletin Australian Fatherhood Research Network Bulletin 47, May 2019
The Bulletin is produced by A/Prof Richard Fletcher (editor), Dr Elaine Bennett, Dr Elisabeth Duursma, Dr Jacqui MacDonald, Dr Dawson Cooke, Dr Jennifer
StGeorge & Associate Prof Campbell Paul and Miranda Cashin. We acknowledge the support of The Family Action Centre, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The
University of Newcastle
DADS and PLAYGROUPS
Arnolds Creek Playgroup photo courtesy Melton City Council and Playgroups Victoria
PAGE 2 Fatherhood Research Bulletin
In this issue
AUSTRALIAN FATHERHOOD RESEARCH CONSORTIUM 3
ON THE WEB
• Follow-up on shared parental leave 4
• Dad La Soul 5
• Webinar: Postnatal Depression and Anxiety
—Helping Dad to Help Mum and Bub 5
PROGRAMS AND FATHER INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
• City of Casey Dads Matter Program 6
• Dads Playgroups—developing the role of Playgroup Victoria 7
• Salvation Army ‘Men as Fathers’ Portfolio 8
• Leigh, Community Playgroup facilitator 9
RESEARCH
• Fathers role changes over recent generations 11
• Fathers as sex educators 13
ONGOING RESEARCH
• Creating an Australian Fatherhood ecosystem map 16
• Beer Gut or Baby? General knowledge of Pregnancy and
Outcomes Survey 17
Continues next page
PAGE 3
AUSTRALIAN FATHERHOOD RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
Bulletin 47, MAY 2019
The Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium 2019
The 2019 Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium was held at Deakin University, Melbourne on May 2nd and 3rd.
This year, 60 attendees came from across Australia representing academics, practitioners, policymakers, health service
and community workers.
DAY 1
The first day of the Symposium saw keynote presentations by Professor John Aitken, University of Newcastle, on de-
clining rates of fertility, Emma Walsh, Parents At Work, on shared parental leave, and Professor Paul Ramchandani,
University of Cambridge, on paternal depression and play.
Powerpoint slides from the talks by Emma Walsh and Paul Ramchandani are available on the Fathers & Family Re-
search Program website here https://www.ffrpweb.com/fatherhood-research-symposium
The gist of the talk by John Aitken can be seen in this video clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUQMOY77KOY .
Professor Paul Ramchandani’s talk was featured on the Father Hood https://www.the-father-hood.com/article/playing
A panel discussion featuring Emma Walsh, Associate Professor Rebecca Giallo. from the Murdoch Childrens Research
Institute, and Glen Poole, from the Australian Men’s Health Forum, discussed opportunities and ways to inform policy
that supports fathers. Also, across three sessions, attendees gave mini presentations on new research and programs.
In a summary of the range of activities on Day 1, Dr Karen Wynter, noted the following words and phrases arising
through the day:
Researching, Normalising, Creating partnerships between services and researchers, Supporting, Starting conversations, Raising awareness: https://dadsgroup.org/man-with-a-pram-2018/, Providing services for dads / whole families, Being relentless, Being a mouthpiece www.the-father-hood.com, Asking fathers about their experiences, Informing social policy. And these quotable quotations:
The rising tide of male infertility: The sperm cells get to the egg, and they don’t know what to do! John Aitken
It’s about what you do and not what you are. This is an important shift in understanding parenting behaviours. Jennifer StGeorge (The text messaging intervention) changed him from being the father he thought he should be to the father he want-ed to be. Chris May “Primary” and “secondary” carer labels perpetuate the stereotypes that we have. Emma Walsh To be home on parental leave, we could say it is management training Swedish father Strategies should focus on dads…but you ARE the strategy. Why don’t YOU focus on dads? Glen Poole Depression and play are two ways of thinking about fathers’ early influence on children. Paul Ramchandani
DAY 2
On Day 2 of the Symposium the four existing Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium working groups (Literature Review; Data & Analysis; Intervention; Science Communications/Policy) met to develop their projects and two new in-terest groups were formed: A Father–Inclusive Practice Interest Group will be chaired by Julie Graney [email protected] from Kids First Aus-tralia and Claire Ruthven from Merri Health [email protected] . Please contact Julie and Claire if you would like to share ideas, knowledge and experiences about father inclusive practices. A Postgrad Students and Early Career Researcher Interest Group will be chaired by Dr Jennifer StGeorge ([email protected]) and supported by Lauren Francis (Deakin University PhD candidate) [email protected]. This group aims to support knowledge exchange and collaborations between students that will build their research track records. Already one cross-institutional student collaboration has emerged among doc-toral candidates who met at the symposium. Please email Jennifer and Lauren if you would like to be part of this group.
Follow-up on shared parental leave Our Fatherhood Research Network Bulletin 43, August 2018, featured several articles on the issue of shared parental leave. On May 2 Emma Walsh presented to the 3rd Fatherhood Research Symposium on the topic of Normal-ising the conversation about men taking pa-rental leave. Members of the Fatherhood Re-search Consortium (free to join) can access the slides from this presentation on the Con-sortium website here http://mappresearch.org/fatherhood-consortium Last week the ABC posted a story on ABC Life Dads overcoming the barriers in the workplace to taking parental leave with several accounts of fathers who had managed extended leave and some who had been refused “Then the HR manager told him, "Come on, mate … you know this is just for chicks, don't you?'" The story can be accessed here https://www.abc.net.au/life/dads-taking-paternity-parental-leave-in-australia/11055054 And for advocates for women’s views see http://www.powertopersuade.org.au/blog/fathers-face-a-flexibility-stigma-time-for-policy-and-cultural-change-to-support-fathers-using-flexibility/10/12/2018
In this Huffington Post video Dan Flanagan, a former media analyst from Worthing, West Sussex in the south of England describes why he quit his job to set up fathers’ groups under the banner Dad La Soul https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2018/11/20/i-set-up-a-father-friendly-parenting-group-so-dads-wont-feel-alone_a_23595239/
Bulletin 47, MAY 2019
Webinar: Postnatal Depression and Anxiety - Helping Dad to Help Mum and Bub
This webinar was supported by Mission Australia (Communities for Children) and conducted in April 2019.
There are a range of services providing support and information to mothers experiencing perinatal depression/anxiety
yet evidence, both local and international, shows that mums are most likely to turn to, and rely on, their parenting
partner (usually the baby’s dad) when seeking support. The quality of his support for her is an important predictor of
her outcomes but there is little guidance for practitioners on how they can work with dads to help him support her at
this time.
This webinar provides evidence-based, practical insights into ways that clinicians can work with fathers to enhance
their ability to negotiate and provide support to Mums experiencing perinatal depression/anxiety.
To view the ZOOM recording click on the following link https://www.ffrpweb.com/webinar-pnd (Note that this record-ing starts after introductory slides and SMS4dads promo video). If you wish to see the SMS4dads video (Slide 3) you can find this at https://youtu.be/HaWMZDHDmsM For further information about the Webinar contact [email protected]
PROGRAMS AND FATHERS INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
City of Casey Dads Matter Program
The City of Casey recognises that dads
matter; that the integral role a father plays
in a child’s life is critical to positive child
development and the fabric of a healthy
Casey community. In 2007, Casey Council
established a dedicated program for dads
developed and run by dads, that celebrates
and recognises the importance of father-
hood and engages fathers as active contrib-
utors to their children’s development.
Known as Dads Matter, the initiative has
grown to deliver over five free programs a
week in 2019, facilitated by two Fathers
Inclusive Activity Workers, providing di-
verse opportunities for fathers, grandfa-
thers father figures and their children to
spend quality time together.
The City of Casey, in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, supports over 150 diverse cultures and is one of
the largest and fastest growing regions in Australia, with a current population of 340,419 (Australian Bureau of Statis-
tics 2018). Programs developed for fathers and children therefore are required to be flexible, diverse and localised to
ensure engagement and accessibility.
The Daytime Dads Playgroup currently supports a core group of 5 fathers and their children 0-6 years, during the day.
Together they enjoy a safe and exciting play space that encourages them to spend quality time together while social-
ising with other dads and children. Each Tuesday morning during school terms, Pop up Playgroup sessions in parks, co
-facilitated by a Fathers Inclusive Activity Worker, engages families including fathers and grandfathers. The Pop up
Playgroups move around the municipality, staying in each park for four weeks at a time. This program has engaged
over 2800 participants since term 2 2018, helping to link families to Dads Matter Programs, Playgroups, Maternal and
Child Health, Kindergartens, Family Day Care and local services.
For fathers that work, programs such as Read Play Make, Dads Little Builders and Cook it with Dad are offered at flexi-
ble times including evenings and Saturday’s. Currently facilitated by a Fathers Inclusive Activity Worker, 15 families
spend two hours cooking together in a local children’s centre, learning about healthy eating and enjoying social net-
working. Dads Little Builders currently supports 12 dads to connect with their children through creating and building,
while developing children’s practical and creative skills. With parental supervision children use real tools, including
power tools, to create amazing individual projects.
guidelines for nurses supporting teen fathers and their families through their early stages of transitioning to
parenting.
Researching or working with fathers presents seemingly limitless opportunities to discover new and re-
warding insights about men, families and children. The decades ahead will no doubt bring further challenges
as we experience continuing changes in roles and expectations.
Generations comparison: Father role representations in the 1980s and the new Millennium
In the light of relevant and current debate on the changing role of fathers, this contribution is aimed at analysing the international literature on fatherhood, comparing two distinct periods of time, from the social, cultural and demo-graphic point of view: the years 1980–1999 and the new millennium. This will
contribute to identifying features of the fatherhood transformation in these two contexts, which in fact refer to two generations of fathers. The research questions to be answered are: Which aspects characterize the process of father-hood transformation, in an intergenerational perspective? How are paternal childcare practices represented in differ-ent historical and social periods? An analysis of the academic publications on fathers in Scopus and Google Scholar will be conducted, in the two temporal periods indicated, using T-Lab software, in order to map fathers’ role repre-sentations. Bosoni, M. L., & Mazzucchelli, S. (2019). Generations Comparison: Father Role Representations in the 1980s and the New Millennium. Genealogy, 3(2), 17.
Fatherhood Research Bulletin PAGE 12
Continues next page
Working With Fathers in Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapy Working With Fathers in Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapy interfaces theoretical ideas about fatherhood and their incorporation into the clinical practice of psychoanalytic parent-infant psychotherapy. Often, when a family attends parent-infant psychotherapy, issues of the father are eclipsed by attention to the mother, who is usually the identified patient. Until now relatively neglected in the literature, this book attends to both the barri-ers to psychological work with the father, and to ways in which he can be engaged in a ther-apeutic process. Baradon, T. (Ed.). (2019). Working with Fathers in Psychoanalytic Parent-infant Psychothera-py. Routledge.
Are parental relationships improved if fathers take time off of work after the birth of a child?
Research has begun to examine the consequences of paternity leave, focusing primarily on whether paternity leave-taking increases father involvement. Yet, other consequences of paternity leave-taking have not been considered using US data. This study uses longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine whether fathers’ time off from work after the birth of a child is associated with relationship quality, relationship support, and coparenting quality. We also consider whether these relationships are mediat-ed by father involvement. Results suggest that fathers’ time off of work after a birth and length of time off are each positively associated with relationship quality and coparenting quality one year after a child’s birth. They are also positively associated with trajectories of relationship quality and coparenting quality over the first five years after birth. Father in-volvement at least partially mediates these relationships. Overall, this study suggests that the potential benefits of fathers’ time off of work after the birth of a child may extend be-
yond father involvement and may improve parental relationships. Petts, R. J., & Knoester, C. (2019). Are Parental Relationships Improved if Fathers Take Time Off of Work After the Birth of a Child?. Social Forces.
The perceptions of fathers about parenting a child with developmental disability: A scop-ing review
Compared to mothers, research into the role and involvement of fathers in families with a child with a disability appears limited. The aim was to scope and critically appraise the availa-ble literature, with a focus on fathers' perceptions and experiences of their role in parenting a child with a developmental disability. A systematic search was conducted of research pub-lished from 2000 to 2017 that addressed the aim. Articles were included if data were available about fathers' experiences and/or perceptions of their role in relation to a child with disability; those addressing stress responses to fathering only were excluded. Information was extracted for summary. Twenty‐one studies (12 quantitative, 9 qualitative), conducted across 10 coun-tries, met inclusion criteria. Key themes of qualitative studies included the process of fathers adapting to their child's disability, planning for the future, involvement with health services and how their perceptions and experiences shaped their participation in the family. Results of
quantitative studies demonstrated differences in experiences of fathers compared to mothers as well as in approach-es fathers applied to cope with challenging experiences.
Continues next page
PAGE 13 Bulletin 47, MAY 2019
The review highlights current gaps in understanding the experiences of fathers and their perceptions about their own roles in parenting a child with disability. There is a need for further research into factors that might influence fathers' participation within their families. Boyd, M. J., Iacono, T., & McDonald, R. (2019). The Perceptions of Fathers About Parenting a Child With Developmen-tal Disability: A Scoping Review. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities.
Fathering on tenuous ground: A qualitative meta-synthesis on teen fathering Background: Although teen fathers are a vulnerable group of parents, they have received far less attention than teen mothers. Purpose: We conducted a systematic search of qualitative studies that examined their pre-natal and postpartum experience to better understand teen fathers’ concerns, strengths, and vulnerabilities. Methods: We searched nine electronic databases through September 2017; 29 studies represented in 30 articles met study criteria. All authors independently extracted data from each article. Coding decisions were reviewed weekly and differences were settled by consensus. Results: From pooling the results of 29 primary studies, we describe how a tenuous ground contributes to teen paternity and imperils young fathers’ involvement with their children. In the best of circumstances, the ground begins to stabilize for teens who become involved parents despite significant challenges and hard-ships.
Clinical Implications: Our results contribute to the visibility of teen fathers and the social disparities that imperil father-ing. We provide clinical guidance for strengthening the ground for teen fathers and their families, recognizing that clini-cians often encounter challenges such as interpersonal factors and sociocultural conditions that systematically erode fathers’ ties to their children, partners, professional caregivers, and institutions.
Fathers as sex educators.
FRB Comment by Elaine Bennett Adj Assoc Professor Curtin & Notre Dame Universities The first article (Lucey &
Garfield, 2019), Fathers’ Engagement in Their Sons’ Sexual and Reproductive Health is a study from the USA which
highlights the findings of interviews with 25 father-son dyads from the Bronx. The researchers analysed the partici-
pants' communication around condom use and uncovered common themes surrounding preferences, barriers, and
opportunities for condom education between fathers and sons. The core message of the study (that teenage boys
want to hear from their fathers about condom use) is important. Fathers intuitively know this is a tough topic to dis-
cuss, and despite lacking knowledge at times, they nonetheless possess some innate communication skills that can
be supported and reinforced, such as using humour and starting conversations when they will not be interrupted or
overheard. Several key follow-up questions emerge from this work. What options are available for sons in homes
without a cohabiting or involved father? How can we reach fathers to educate and empower them to be effective
sexual health educators to their sons? Where can fathers turn for reliable information to impart to their sons? The
authors suggest that public health campaigns, partnering with schools, community groups, adolescent sports teams
or social media avenues may be a valuable way to encourage fathers to communicate with their sons about condom
use and to point them toward useful educational resources.
The second article (Bennett, Harden & Anstey, 2018) discusses eight fathers perceptions and practices in educating
their ten year old children about physical maturation, reproduction and relationships. This in-depth study found that
for these fathers who wished to adhere to the cultural imperative for a close father-child connection presented a gap
between their aspirations and actions. Gendered norms for motherhood and fatherhood influenced their roles as
sexuality educators.
Continues next page
Fatherhood Research Bulletin PAGE 14
The third study from South Africa (Lesch & Brooks, 2018) explored the experiences of 15 father-son dyads with 30 in-
depth interviews. The findings indicated that although both fathers and sons believed that fathers have an important
role to play in the sex education of sons, the sexual communication in these dyads were mostly indirect, singular, and
father-centred warnings, jokes or speeches. The men in our study would therefore benefit from interventions that equip
them with knowledge and skills to function as more effective sexual communicators and educators, including the chal-
lenge to expand ideas and practices involving masculinity and fatherhood.
The fourth study (Baker et al, 2018) assessed the feasibility of implementing a HIV/STI risk reduction program for Afri-
can American fathers and sons. Focus groups were conducted with 30 father–son pairs. The adolescents were 11- 19
years old fathers and sons were not in agreement about frequency of communication about sexual health issues. How-
ever, the majority of fathers and sons indicated they would attend a father–son HIV/STI risk reduction program togeth-
er.
All studies reflect the need for further research to explore further strategies that are effective interventions to support
fathers communication and a resource for sex education with their sons.
Fathers’ engagement in their sons’ sexual and reproductive health Despite ongoing efforts to promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH), teenagers con-tinue to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Nearly 60% of high school seniors have had sex, yet only 54% of sexually active teenagers report using a condom during their most recent sexual encounter, down from 62% in 2005.1 Concurrently, rates of sexually transmitted diseases are rising dramatically among adolescents and are increasing at a faster rate among boys than girls.2 A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis re-vealed that over the past 4 years, gonorrhea diagnoses have increased by 67% and syphilis diagnoses have increased by 76%. Nearly 2.3 million new cases of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed in 2017 alone, breaking the previous record set in 2016.3 Clearly, new approaches are needed to address these trends. The landscape of SRH is rapidly evolving; contraception options are changing, and the days of health class and textbooks are going by the wayside4 as teenagers increasingly turn to their cell phones and the Internet for information.5 As the culture of SRH changes, so must
our tactics for sexual health education. Lucey, K., & Garfield, C. F. (2019). Fathers’ Engagement in Their Sons’ Sexual and Reproductive Health. Pediatrics, 143(1), e20182595.
Fathers as sexuality educators: aspirations and realities. An interpretative phenomenologi-cal analysis
Men can play a significant role in teaching their children about sexuality but fathers’ practices and perceptions in this domain remain under explored. This study presents an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of eight fathers’ perceptions and practices in educating their ten-year-old children about physical maturation, reproduction and relationships. A Foucauldian analysis with a focus on governmentality and biopower revealed tensions and contradictions between the fathers’ aspirations and their realities, which appeared to be underpinned by the dynamic, contradictory, shifting, plural nature of fatherhood identities. Whilst fathers wished to adhere to the cultural imperative for father–child emotional closeness, a disparity between their ambitions and their conduct emerged.
Bulletin 47, MAY 2019 PAGE 15
Care appeared to be a deeply gendered concept for the fathers and despite their aspirations for an intimate relation-ship with their children, gendered norms for motherhood and fatherhood prevailed resulting in passivity in their role as sexuality educators. The study concludes by arguing that challenges to structures and subcultural contexts, which may deter fathers from fully engaging with their sons and daughters in this aspect of communication are required. Bennett, C., Harden, J., & Anstey, S. (2018). Fathers as sexuality educators: aspirations and realities. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Sex education, 18(1), 74-89.
Man talk: Exploring sexual communication between fathers and sons in a minority South African community
Much of what is known about father-child sexual communication is based on studies conduct-ed in North America and more research into under-represented groups is needed. Our explor-atory study therefore investigated sexual communication within father-son dyads belonging to a minority group in South Africa. We used a qualitative research design, and a total of 30 in-depth individual interviews were conducted with the members of 15 father-young adult son dyads. Thematic analysis of the data indicated that although both fathers and sons believed that fathers have an important role to play in the sex education of sons, the sexual communi-cation in these dyads were mostly indirect, singular, and father-centered warnings, jokes or speeches. The men in our study would therefore benefit from interventions that equip them with knowledge and skills to function as more effective sexual communicators and educators. Furthermore, we found that limiting hegemonic masculinity ideas underpinned father-son sex-ual communication, which implies that interventions to empower fathers as effective sex com-
municators should also challenge and expand ideas and practices involving masculinity and fatherhood. We also identi-fied context-specific issues (e.g., being mindful of how the idea of explicit sexual communication fits with local con-structions of respectful father-son relationships) that need to be attended to in such interventions. Lesch, E., & Brooks, S. (2018). Man talk: Exploring sexual communication between fathers and sons in a minority South African community. Sex Roles, 1-19.
“You know what you gotta do”: African American fathers and sons perspectives’ on parent–child sexual risk communication and HIV intervention development needs
Context:: Although parents can be influential toward the sexual attitudes and behaviors of ado-lescents, fathers are significantly underrepresented in studies of parental influences on adoles-cent sexual practices and behaviors. Method: This mixed method study assessed the feasibility of implementing a HIV/STI (human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection) risk reduction program for African American fathers and sons. Focus groups were conducted with 30 father–son pairs at a local barbershop. Adolescents ranged between 11 and 19 years old with a mean age of 14.71 years (SD = 2.14). Results: Fathers and sons were not in agreement about frequency of communication about sexual health issues. However, the majority of fathers and sons indicated they would attend a father–son HIV/STI risk reduction program together. Conclusion: This study supports the development of a HIV/STI risk reduction program for that
can enhance sexual risk communication practices among African American fathers and sons. Baker, J. L., Lanier, Y., James, G., Fletcher, J., Delish, M., Opara, O., ... & Stewart, J. (2018). “You Know What You Gotta Do”: African American Fathers and Sons Perspectives’ on Parent–Child Sexual Risk Communication and HIV Intervention Development Needs. Journal of Family Issues, 39(6), 1685-1711.
PAGE 16 Fatherhood Research Bulletin
ONGOING RESEARCH
Creating an Australian Fatherhood ecosystem map
The national fatherhood mapping exercise is being facilitated by: Dom Alford – Support for Fathers project at Relation-
ships Australia Victoria; Grainne O’Loughlin – CEO Karitane; and Tom Docking – CEO Dad Group Inc.
Together we are seeking your assistance to help build an ecosystem map that shows who is providing support services,
programs and initiatives for dads across Australia. We are not funded to do this work and we are relying on your good-
will to help out. Our aim is to highlights the pros and cons in what’s offered to dads and to advocate for an improved
system.
To get us started, can you please complete this very brief form here so that we can list you and your service/program
on the database and continue to stay in touch. We are seeking basic contact information which will eventually be pub-
lished and available to the public. If you do not wish to share your details, at least put down your organisation’s contact
details.
We apologise if you receive this message more than once as Grainne, Tom and myself are sending to contacts from our
own databases (and you may be on each one!) – but figured it’s better to receive three times than not at all! We’d love
to have a first version available in early June, and will send out a reminder or two over the next few weeks so that you
can get your info to us. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please let me know.
We look forward to sharing further developments on this initiative with you. Thanks for your support.
More detail
• The first step we would like to achieve is to create a database of Fatherhood service providers, what services or programs they are offering and where they are located. Relationships Australia Victoria, Karitane and Dads Group Inc. have started some of this work already. This database will enable the development of “the map”, so that we can get a bird’s-eye view of all the services and their locations for dads in Australia.
• Once we create the Fatherhood map we will share it with you all so that you can check for any errors, omissions or additions and then we can all use the map for further connectivity and collaboration.
• We will update the map at 6 monthly intervals as the fields/services/providers continue to grow. More updates to come.