What the study found
The review found that fathering remains a dynamic practice across adulthood, and that masculinities shape paternal engagement and vulnerability. It also found that fathers’ later-life relationships with children contribute to broader understandings of aging families.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that bringing together family gerontology, fatherhood, and masculinities helps clarify how fathers’ relationships with adult children fit into the study of aging families. They also say the review highlights gaps, identifies emerging directions, and shows the need for more theorizing and research at these intersections.
What the researchers tested
This was a scoping review covering 15 years of scholarship from 2009 to 2023 in family gerontology. The authors examined 4 articles specifically about fathering adult children and 66 articles that included both mothers and fathers, using those broader studies to extrapolate findings for fathers.
What worked and what didn't
The review organized fathering content into four categories: fathering satisfaction and relationship quality, fathering involvement, fathering and health, and fathering in adverse family conditions. Across these categories, the authors report patterns showing continuing fathering in adulthood, as well as the influence of masculinities on paternal engagement and vulnerability.
What to keep in mind
The abstract notes only 4 articles directly about fathering adult children, so the evidence base for fathers specifically is limited. The available summary does not describe additional methodological limitations beyond the scope of the review.
Key points
- The review links family gerontology, fatherhood, and masculinities to study fathers’ relationships with adult children.
- Fathering is described as continuing as a dynamic practice across adulthood.
- Masculinities are reported to shape paternal engagement and vulnerability.
- The review organized findings into four areas: satisfaction and relationship quality, involvement, health, and adverse family conditions.
- Only 4 articles directly addressed fathering adult children; 66 broader studies were also reviewed.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Review maps fathering in later life across adulthood
- Image credit:
- Photo by ArtHouse Studio on Pexels
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