Fathers with infants: Knowledge and involvement in relation to psychosocial functioning and religion

Fathers in northern Utah and southern Idaho (N = 132), whose families were applicants for an Early Head Start (EHS) program, answered interview questi ons about their knowledge of infant development, their involvement with the ir own infants, their psychosocial functioning, and other background inform ation. Because of the predominance of Mormon culture in this region, religi ous groups were compared. For Mormon and non-Mormon fathers, knowledge was related to feeling in control of their lives and involvement was related to feeling less depressed and using more community support resources. Mormon fathers' knowledge was related to spiritual support, religious activity, an d education; their involvement was related to informal support, more ambiva lence in close relationships. and fewer work hours. Non-Mormon fathers' kno wledge was related to less depression and to less avoidance and ambivalence in close relationships; their involvement was related to feelings of contr ol, spiritual support, and less avoidance in close relationships. Non-Mormo n fathers who knew more about infants were also more involved with them, bu t surprisingly, Mormon fathers who were more knowledgeable were less involv ed with their infants. These differences in religious groups are discussed in relation to explicit and implicit messages about parental roles in Mormo n theology and culture.