'Too busy'? Fathers' attendance for family appointments

Fathers are often less likely to attend for appointments with their referre d children at family and child psychiatry clinics than are mothers. The lit erature related to this topic is examined. A study of fathers' attendance a t family sessions is reported, in which attenders are compared to nonattend ers. It is concluded that conventional suppositions regarding fathers' atte ndance, such as work hours and family roles, are not as important predictor s of fathers attendance as fathers' relationships with their own fathers an d current relationships with their partners. Clinical implications are exam ined.