Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. . - book review

Adolescence, Winter, 2002

TAMIS-LeMONDA, Catherine S., & CABRERA, Natasha (Eds.). Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002. 672pp. $59.95 (h).

This book brings together experts from diverse scientific disciplines who share an interest in the topic of father involvement. Unlike most books in the field, which tend to solely draw from a psychological perspective, this handbook merges theories and research from the fields of psychology, economics, demography, sociology, anthropology, and social policy. For the most part, research on fathering is motivated by concern for children's well-being. Social scientists share a core set of questions, including: Who are fathers? What is father involvement and how does it affect children and families? What are the determinants of father involvement? How do cultural contexts shape fathers' roles in families? This book sheds light on how a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of fathering can advance knowledge about these fundamental questions. This integrative approach is fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of human development generally, and to fathering more specifically. At the core of this book are the goals of describing and understanding the nature, antecedents, and consequences of father involvement across biological status, family structure, culture, and stages in children's development--both within and across scientific boundaries. Each of the scientific disciplines represented offers unique methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of fathering and to the interpretation of behavioral patterns that characterize ecological systems that include--as well as extend beyond--family units. Together, the chapters offer insight into the nature and meaning of fatherhood and father involvement by questioning longstanding assumptions about fathers' roles in the lives of families and children.