Modeling the Dynamics of Paternal Influences on Children Over the Life Course Natasha Cabrera University of Maryland Hiram E. Fitzgerald Michigan State University Robert H. Bradley University of Arkansas at Little Rock Lori Roggman Utah State University Modeling the Dynamics of Paternal Influences on Children over the Life Course Is a heuristic model, which identifies sets of variables that predict father involvement, variables that interact to predict involvement, and variables that influence father characteristics and thereby influence involvement. It also suggests moderators and mediators of pathways from predictors to father involvement and from father involvement to child outcomes. It is a dynamic model, assuming change over the life course, while retaining paternal influences from one developmental period to another. The model is rooted in the extant literature, although it is not circum- scribed by that literature. As a heuristic model, it offers a framework from which measurement models can be derived to address research questions of interest. Technological, social, and political changes beginning over a century ago have profoundly affected family life and, consequently, mothers’ and fathers’ roles within the family. Although researchers have extensively documented what fathers do and how it affects child development, their efforts have not been guided by a compre- hensive theory of fathering. Attachment theory provided the nexus to drive the robust investi- gation of maternal impacts on children, but no such theory has crystallized as a conceptual frame- work for father research. Father research has been driven by a variety of content specific micro- theories, which suggest various pathways by which fathers influence children’s lives. These studies have been more useful in describing than explain- ing how fathers affect child development (Tamis- Lemonda & Cabrera, 2002). A diverse group of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers met at the University of Maryland for the National Fatherhood Forum in June 2005 to discuss theoretical, methodological, and analytical issues pertaining to fatherhood research. Our group was charged with describing a model of fatherhood. To provide grist for the discussion, participants were asked to critically appraise the conceptual model we present in this article (Figure 1). The model and proceedings of the Forum comprise the content of this special issue of Applied Developmental Science. A Model of Father Involvement Our heuristic model identifies sets of variables that predict father involvement, variables that interact to predict involvement, and variables that influence father characteristics and thereby influ- ence involvement. It also suggests moderators and mediators of pathways from predictors to father involvement and from father involvement to child outcomes. It is a dynamic model, assuming change over the life course, while retain- ing paternal influences from one developmental period to another. The model is rooted in the extant literature, although it is not circumscribed by that literature. For particular studies, only some components of the model may be relevant. This model of distinct systems or dimensions is not exclusive to fathers. Some dimensions of involvement are considered central to what fathers Correspondence should be addressed to Natasha Cabrera, University of Maryland, Human Development, College of Edu- cation, 3304 J. Benjamin Building, Rm 3304N, College Park, MD 20742. E-mail: ncabrera@umd.edu Applied Development Science 2007, Vol. 11, No. 4, 185–189 Copyright # 2007 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 185