Fathers' contributions to children's health: the case of British Asian fatehrs

Research has demonstrated the positive impact of fathers' involvement on children’s well-being, however, little is known about the influences on fathering for minority ethnic fathers.

This qualitative study focussed on four British South Asian religio-ethnic 'groups': Bangladeshi Muslims; Pakistani Muslims; Gujarati Hindus; and Punjabi Sikhs from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds in two distinct cities. with over 170 respondents recruited through community networks and snowballing.

The majority of these fathers contributed to cognitive, physical, emotional social and spiritual dimensions of health on a regular basis. They adopted a variety of strategies including contributing directly and indirectly via role modelling and delegating. However, there were a range of influences on fathering which constrained or facilitated fathers' contribution to their children's health. These included factors relating to the father, mother, co-parenting, the influence of children, grand parents and extended family, the wider religio-ethnic community and the wider society.

There were similarities between ethnic groups and differences within them, in particular related to mother's employment status and the quality of the mother-father relationship. Nonetheless, ethnicity often marked a difference in the form of fathering.