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Father involvement in the first year of life: Associations with maternal mental health and child development outcomes in rural Pakistan

Author

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  • Maselko, Joanna
  • Hagaman, Ashley K.
  • Bates, Lisa M.
  • Bhalotra, Sonia
  • Biroli, Pietro
  • Gallis, John A.
  • O'Donnell, Karen
  • Sikander, Siham
  • Turner, Elizabeth L.
  • Rahman, Atif

Abstract

The contribution of fathers to child development and maternal mental health is increasingly acknowledged, although research on this topic outside of high income countries is limited. Using longitudinal data, we characterized father involvement in a rural setting in Pakistan and investigated the link between father involvement in the first year of life and child development and maternal depression. Data come from the Bachpan study, a birth cohort established in the context of a perinatal depression intervention. Father involvement was mother reported at 3 and 12 months postpartum and covered domains such as playing with or soothing the infant. Child outcomes included growth at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum, socioemotional development at 6 months (Ages and Stages Questionnaire-socioemotional), and developmental milestones at 12 months (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, BSID)). Maternal depression was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Roughly 20% of the fathers were temporarily non-resident. Among the rest, most mothers reported that fathers were involved: for example, approximately 40% reported that the father plays with the baby on a typical day. We observed no clear pattern of association between 3-month father involvement and child growth at any time point; however, 12-month father involvement was cross-sectionally inversely associated with child growth. We observed a protective pattern of association between 3-month father involvement and 6-month child socioemotional development. For the BSID domains, while almost all effect estimates suggested a protective association with higher levels of father involvement/father being temporarily non-resident, the magnitude of the estimates was smaller and most 95% confidence intervals crossed the null. Finally, there was a trend toward greater father involvement/being temporary non-resident predicting lower levels of maternal depression. Using longitudinal data, these results provide new evidence about the association between father involvement, and both child development and maternal mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Maselko, Joanna & Hagaman, Ashley K. & Bates, Lisa M. & Bhalotra, Sonia & Biroli, Pietro & Gallis, John A. & O'Donnell, Karen & Sikander, Siham & Turner, Elizabeth L. & Rahman, Atif, 2019. "Father involvement in the first year of life: Associations with maternal mental health and child development outcomes in rural Pakistan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:237:y:2019:i:c:17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112421
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Calvina Z. Ellerbe & Jerrett B. Jones & Marcia J. Carlson, 2018. "Race/Ethnic Differences in Nonresident Fathers’ Involvement After a Nonmarital Birth," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(3), pages 1158-1182, September.
    2. Jaipaul L. Roopnarine & Ambika Krishnakumar & Dimple Vadgama, 2013. "Indian Fathers: Family Dynamics and Investment Patterns," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 25(2), pages 223-247, September.
    3. Das Gupta, Monica, 2009. "Family systems, political systems, and Asia's'missing girls': the construction of son preference and its unraveling," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5148, The World Bank.
    4. Stanislav Kolenikov & Gustavo Angeles, 2009. "Socioeconomic Status Measurement With Discrete Proxy Variables: Is Principal Component Analysis A Reliable Answer?," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 55(1), pages 128-165, March.
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    1. Amaral, Sofia & Dinarte-Diaz, Lelys & Dominguez, Patricio & Perez-Vincent, Santiago M., 2024. "Helping families help themselves: The (Un)intended impacts of a digital parenting program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Monteiro Amaral,Sofia Fernando & Dinarte Diaz,Lelys Ileana & Dominguez,Patricio & Perez-Vincent,Santiago M., 2021. "Helping Families Help Themselves ? Heterogeneous Effects of a Digital Parenting Program," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9850, The World Bank.
    3. Garcia, Italo Lopez & Fernald, Lia C.H. & Aboud, Frances E. & Otieno, Ronald & Alu, Edith & Luoto, Jill E., 2022. "Father involvement and early child development in a low-resource setting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    4. Hasina Rakotomanana & Christine N Walters & Joel J Komakech & Deana Hildebrand & Gail E Gates & David G Thomas & Fanjaniaina Fawbush & Barbara J Stoecker, 2021. "Fathers’ involvement in child care activities: Qualitative findings from the highlands of Madagascar," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, March.

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