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Dads for Life |
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Investigators:
Sanford Braver, Principal
Investigator
William Griffin, Sharlene Wolchik,
& Irwin Sandler |
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 The
Dads for Life project (5RO1MHH51184) evaluates an intervention
designed to prevent children's post-divorce mental health
problems by targeting noncustodial fathers. We take the
perspective that all divorced fathers can benefit their
children's well-being, whatever their custody arrangements.
The small theory underlying this program was based heavily
on the findings of our three-wave longitudinal study of
divorced families (NICHD MH 19383), which used a Social
Exchange model of non-custodial parent disengagement.
(Braver, et al., 1993a, 1993b; also see Braver's book
Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths (Tarcher/Penguin-Putnam)
. Program design was also guided by the results of interviews
with divorced couples that focused on conflict, conflict
resolution, and ex-spouse interactions (Braver & Griffin,
in press; Braver, 1998). The 8-week program targets four
empirically-supported putative mediators: increasing commitment
to the parenting role, expanding and reinforcing parenting
skills, especially those suited for the non-custodial
role (e.g. discipline), minimizing conflict with their
ex-spouse, and restoring their sense of parental lack
of control. It features the use of a professionally made
videotape, 8 Short Films About Divorced Dads, as the core
content of each session. Using divorce records, families
(N=214) with children from 4 to 12 years old were recruited
and randomly assigned to Dads for Life or a self-study
condition. Assessments include mother, father, child,
and teacher report, and behavioral interactions of father-child
and father-mother dyads at pre- and post test and 4 month
and 1 year follow-up. This study will be completed in
July 2000. |
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