Father-Child Attachment in Black Families: Risk and Protective Processes

• In Event: Attachment Theory and Black Youth Development: New Directions for Cross-disciplinary Dialogue

Abstract

Historically, theoretical and empirical work on Black fathering has been grounded in a deficit perspective. Scholarship has focused on absenteeism and incarceration of Black fathers, neglecting structural inequalities and challenges that affect fathering in Black families, including historical trauma, racism, discrimination, poverty, and segregation. Concomitantly, research has rarely addressed the role of protective processes such as cultural values and spirituality on positive fathering in Black families. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to draw attention to the role and importance of positive fathering in Black youth development. Specifically, we will focus on the attachment relationship between Black fathers and their children, by highlighting the protective nature of this dyadic relationship on youth development and adaptation in a racialized society. In addition, we will address key determinants of father-child attachment in Black families by discussing the structural and proximal processes that may support or undermine this relationship. For example, supportive processes include cultural socialization and values, spirituality, and ethnic-racial identity, while threatening processes include separation, interpersonal or historical trauma, and institutional barriers. Considering the contextualized nature of attachment (Keller, 2013), we will also focus on the mediating and moderating factors that are implicated in these processes of risk and protection. Specifically, we will discuss how developmental timing (e.g., separations early in childhood versus adolescence), family structure (e.g., single parent versus multigenerational families/alloparenting), and relationship with the other co-parent, may influence the intensity or quality of the father-child attachment relationship. Although there is a clear need for programs aimed at supporting successful father-child relationships, we will provide evidence of successful prevention and intervention programs that promote secure father-child attachment relationships. In our concluding section, we will discuss challenges and limitations posed by applying historical and contemporary attachment theory and research to Black families in an effort to delineate future directions of research needed to extend theory and methods for understanding and supporting fathering in Black families. Refinement in theory and methods are important to reach the goal of a more culturally and contextually grounded conceptualization of attachment, as well as to advance ecologically valid and sensitive research methods and measures suited to culturally diverse families (Keller, 2013). We will also discuss the transactional nature of fathers’ own developmental experiences on their parenting behaviors and relationships with their children. Finally, we will offer recommendations for research focused on promoting positive fathering and strong father-child attachment in Black families.

Authors

• Fanita Amincia Tyrell, University of Maryland - College Park
  Presenting Author

• Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Non-Presenting Author