In search of security in work and family roles, low-income fathers struggle to remain tenuously attached to the labor market and, as a result, to their partners and children. As they move in and out of jobs, residence, and intimate relationships, these fathers may become involved with some children and not with others. The broad long-term objective of this application is to identify conditions that lead to the differential involvement of transitory fathers on the margins of work and family.
The specific aims are (1) to document transitions in low-income fathers' work and family roles over time and (2) to explore how men interpret differential involvement as providers and caregivers for children in multiple families. This research is relevant to the health of children and families in that involved fathers can provide resources and social capital to pull children and families out of poverty. A qualitative research design with purposeful sampling for a racially/ethnically diverse group of 35 fathers with children in two or more families will be utilized. The methods to be used are two semistructured interviews, including a life history protocol with calendar grid (to trace transitions in employment, family relationships, and residence) and a father involvement protocol (to explore fathers' interpretations of transitory involvement with multiple children over time). ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
7R03HD042074-03
Application #
7100750
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Evans, V Jeffrey
Project Start
2003-06-18
Project End
2006-05-31
Budget Start
2005-01-01
Budget End
2006-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$36,881
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742