title: Values of fathers for themselves and their newborns.
abstract: The paternal role has been neglected in parenting research. The present study focused on the values of fathers of newborns. Values of fathers of newborns drawn from the inner-city lower-class were compared with values of fathers of newborns drawn from the middle class. Highest goals of fathers from both groups for themselves were economic ('family security'); values for their children were morally focused ('honest'). Inner-city fathers placed a higher value on a clean and obedient child, whereas middle-class fathers placed a higher value on a loving and imaginative child. When values of these fathers were compared with values of a similar sample of mothers of newborns, socioeconomic status remained an important predictor of values. Sex of parent was significant in the inner-city sample as these fathers placed a higher valuation on goals associated with autonomy than did inner-city mothers.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, USA. Judymm@aol.com
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minton
authors.forename: Juanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shell
authors.forename: Linda Zener
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data