Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1994

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Human Ecology

Major Professor

Priscilla Blanton

Committee Members

Greer Fox, Sky Huck, Julie Malia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between high satisfaction fathers and low satisfaction fathers in terms of individuation (individuation with father, mother, and spouse), intimacy (intimacy with father, mother, and spouse), and power (personal and positional) in terms of relational processes. From a sample of 105 fathers, 26 high satisfaction fathers and 26 low satisfaction fathers were identified. Through the use of t-tests and chi-square analyses, it was found that low and high satisfaction fathers who comprised this sample were similar in many respects. However, the two groups did differ significantly on two variables: high satisfaction fathers had more education and worked a greater number of hours in paid employment each week. Multivariate analyses of variance with one between subjects factor (low and high satisfaction father) and one repeated factor were used to assess differences between low and high satisfaction fathers. Low and high satisfaction fathers did not differ in two of the three relational processes examined (individuation and power). The relational process of intimacy did differ between high and low satisfaction fathers with high satisfaction fathers reporting greater intimacy. Intimacy with mother and spousal intimacy were the primary contributors to this difference. Five men were selected who, according to the questionnaire, viewed themselves as highly satisfied fathers. They were interviewed in order to allow them to speak in their own voice concerning what it means to be a father. From these interviews it was found that high satisfaction fathers appear to be involved with their children, to have a good relationship with their spouse, to maintain a balance between work and family life, to relate well with their own parents, and to give salience to their roles as fathers.

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