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Meta‐analysis of the Effectiveness of Resident Fathering Programs: Are Family Life Educators Interested in Fathers?
Author(s) -
Holmes Erin K.,
Galovan Adam M.,
Yoshida Keitaro,
Hawkins Alan J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2010.00599.x
Subject(s) - optimism , meta analysis , psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , medicine
Using meta‐analysis, we reviewed the effectiveness of resident fathering education programs. Our review identified 16 studies with over 200 reported effect sizes. Results revealed a significant overall effect size of d = .26, with specific significant outcomes ranging from d = .14 to d = .61. Studies with father‐only reports produced significantly larger effects than multiple‐reporter studies; studies with no‐treatment control groups produced larger effects than studies with minimal‐treatment comparison groups. A lack of long‐term follow‐up evaluation limited our ability to examine the strength of these effects over time. Although there is some reason for optimism, more fathering education program research is needed. Indeed, the dearth of work in this area may be the most important finding of this meta‐analysis.