Parental Involvement in Child Self-Esteem - Essay Example

Though they worked towards three hypotheses, two dealt with parental perceptions that the parents had of the other spouse. However, the third hypothesis was relevant to the nature of the impact that parental involvement has on young children.

The study was conducted with 25 families of children that were in kindergarten and first grade. Both parents worked outside the home and according to Culp et al. (2000) contributed to the fathers, "[...] taking a greater responsibility in their parent-child interactions during weekdays than single-earner family fathers" (p. 28). Based on this increased involvement by the fathers, Culp et al. (2000) confirmed their hypothesis when they concluded that greater father interaction was "associated with children’s perceptions of self-competence and social acceptance" (p. 36).

The Culp et al. (2000) study found that while increased father involvement elevated the child's sense of parental acceptance, it did not improve their cognitive or physical abilities (p. 36). Though Culp et al. (2000) found that more involvement by the male parent resulted in a perception by the father of better physical behavior, the study pointed out that this might only be the father's perception of the child's behavior (pp. 35-36). The increased time spent with the child, and the added responsibility of caring for them, may alter the father's perception but not the behavior of the child.

Erikson's model would tell us that increased father involvement during stages 2 and 3 would result in a child that has more purpose and courage (Boeree, 2006). This is the early stage of independence and an increased father presence that results in these qualities will translate into more independent actions on the part of the child. It will also diminish the negative effects as, according to Erikson's theory, the lack of parental acceptance would foster feelings of guilt and lack of initiative (Boeree, 2006). This has been corroborated by a study by Biller (1993) that contends a lack of parental involvement can result in insecurity and the development of a poor self-image (as cited in Culp et al., 2000, p.29). These negative traits can also lead to a sense of inadequacy and despair (Classic theories). According to relevant research, we can infer that greater involvement by the father will result in a child with a healthier mental attitude.

The Culp et al. (2000) study was problematic in that the participants were almost exclusively upper-middle-class Caucasian (pp. 30-31). These factors may have contributed to a better overall condition of family life and may not translate across other social and cultural boundaries. The study was also limited by the narrow age group of the children and the lack of follow-up studies. More research involving cohort groups is needed to isolate the impact of parental involvement at very early ages, particularly by the male parent during Erikson's first stage.