TURKISH IMMIGRANT FATHERS’ PRE-BIRTH SUPPORT WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND POST-BIRTH INVOLVEMENT WITH THEIR INFANTS

Date of Award

January 2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Child and Family Studies

Advisor(s)

Jaipaul L. Roopnarine

Keywords

Couvade Syndrome, Fathering, Gender Ideology, Immigration, Paternal involvement, Paternal support

Subject Categories

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Abstract

Despite the growing visibility of Turks in American society, paternal involvement in the Turkish American population remains largely unknown and undocumented. This study examined (a) paternal reports of Turkish immigrant fathers’ physical and psychological symptoms during their wives’ pregnancy periods, (b) the association between paternal support offered during pregnancy and paternal involvement with infants, (c) differences in paternal support and paternal involvement with infants by gender ideology and immigrant adjustment. This study fills a gap in the Turkish immigrant fathering literature in that it focused on experiences during pregnancy and paternal involvement during the prenatal and postnatal period. Participants included 51 Turkish immigrant fathers in the United States. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed fathers’ physical and psychological symptoms, prenatal paternal support offered to the wife, postnatal paternal involvement with the infant, gender ideology, and immigrant adjustment. Findings indicated that the incidence of Couvade Syndrome was high among Turkish immigrant fathers. There was a strong association between paternal support offered during pregnancy and paternal involvement provided to infants. Fathers who showed a tendency to integrate with American culture reported higher participation in the physical care of infants. Determinants of paternal involvement and paternal support among traditional and nontraditional, high masculine and low masculine fathers are discussed.

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