The Being A Dad Package: A Feasibility Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Being A Dad: Assessing the Feasibility of a Fathering Enhancement Package for a Group-Based Parenting Course
IRAS ID
277196
Contact name
Crispin Day
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
Parenting courses are mainly used by mothers, with only around one in ten participants being a father. Fathers describe barriers to attending parenting courses such as, groups taking place during work hours, perceptions that content is tailored for mothers, beliefs about help-seeking and beliefs about traditional gender roles. Fathers are critical to child wellbeing and development. This study aims to assess whether a Being a Dad package is a suitable way of optimising fathering within group format parenting interventions. The study will also investigate the impact of Being a Dad on fathering, co-parenting and family functioning.
Being a Dad is an 8-week package that has been tailored to meet the needs and preferences of fathers, who are not able to attend the face-to-face Being a Parent course. It aims to increase positive activities with their children, warmth and responsiveness towards their children, effective discipline of their children; and additionally, improve positive co-parenting and general family functioning. It consists of three key components, which are: 1) a Being a Dad booklet, 2) a manual for facilitators delivering EPEC BAP groups to mothers, and 3) a series of coaching text messages for fathers.
The study will include men, who are fathers or father figures of children aged 2-14 and are considered parents with direct involvement with the index child for at least 8 hours per week. Their partners/co-parents are required to be attending an Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC): Being A Parent (BAP) group at an EPEC Hub across London.
Fathers will complete six questionnaires pre-intervention and seven questionnaires post-intervention. It is estimated that it will take participants up to 30 minutes to complete the questionnaires at each visit. Fathers will have the choice of completing the questionnaires over the telephone, via video call or online at their convenience.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0243
Date of REC Opinion
8 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion