Component Analysis of Core Content within Effective Fatherhood Programs In the U.S.

Background and Purpose: Previous research studies, including meta-analyses indicate fatherhood programs can improve family environments and father- child relationships. Although evidence documents positive effects, specific program content varies widely across fatherhood programs, and the field lacks specific information about what content is most effective. Component-based approaches are one method for increasing our understanding of effective program characteristics, but its application to fatherhood programs is limited. One component-based meta-analytic study identified core program characteristics of 57 fatherhood programs in the Fatherhood TIES program. It classified program content into 6 broad content dimensions (with 18 sub-dimensions) and showed how specific content is associated with stronger or weaker effects across programs. Analyses, however, did not show how common these content dimensions are across programs or how they might cluster within multi-content programs. The purpose of this study was to address those gaps and answer the following research questions:

1. Which program content components are most consistently used in fatherhood programs?
2. How do identified core content components cluster within evidence-based fatherhood programs in the United States?

Methods: Twenty-six evidence-based fatherhood programs included in three seminal meta-analyses –were included in this study (Adamsons & Johnson, 2013, Holmes et al., 2010, Holmes et al., 2020). We did not include reports from the component meta-analysis that was not available to us. Information about content of 26 programs was extracted from the articles used in the three meta-analyses. Two members of the research team coded program content (present v. absent) for the 6 broad and 18 sub-dimensions. Discrepancies were resolved via consensus. Data were tabulated for each sub-dimension across the 26 programs and within each program across sub-dimensions.

Results: Core content showed significant variability across programs. Program content focusing on parenting (e.g., parenting education, parenting skill-building) were most prevalent, included in 13 programs. Father child bonding, another dimension of parenting, was identified in seven programs. Additionally, co-parenting strategies, employment guidance and support, father responsibility, father engagement, and family/partner relationship strengthening were each present in at least five programs. Unique content, such as managing stress and feelings was identified in two programs and child support information/education was mentioned in only one.

The programs also varied widely in the number of core components each contained, with a mode of 3 and a wide range of 1-7. Most programs contained core components across distinct content areas, suggesting that effective fatherhood programs tend to emphasize both relational and practical domains, such as integrating parenting skills, economic stability, and family dynamics.

Conclusions and Implications: This study identified common and unique core content in effective fatherhood programs. It showed which content was more frequently implemented among different programs that improved fathers’ efficacy and family outcomes. Results suggest the core content dimensions can be used as a framework to design and implement multi-component, evidence-informed fatherhood programs that aim at improving parenting skills, co-parenting relationships quality, and socio-economic wellbeing of fathers. Policy implications suggest building sustained investment in fatherhood intervention practices that can incorporate the integrated relational and economic supports.

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