嬰幼兒時期父職參與之測量恆等性及發展軌跡

Measurement Invariance and Developmental Trajectories of Paternal Involvement in Infancy and Early Childhood

父親在嬰幼兒階段的參與對孩子的發展具有重要的影響。本研究旨在探討嬰幼兒時期父職參與的測量面向以及發展軌跡。研究使用臺灣幼兒發展調查資料庫3月齡組樣本3到24個月的父親填答資料，包含父親的背景變項以及父職參與的情形。研究結果顯示，嬰幼兒時期父職參與的核心因素為「關愛與回應這孩子」和「陪這孩子玩」，同時該因素在長期調查中具有測量恆等性。潛在成長曲線模型的分析顯示，父職參與在3到24個月期間呈現了穩定的增長趨勢。孩子出生3個月時父職參與的程度有較大的個體間差異；而隨孩子成長，原本參與程度較低的父親，後續參與程度增加的速率較快。這顯示父親在進入父職角色後，逐漸發展出父職參與的歷程。本研究探討在嬰幼兒時期父職參與的意涵及發展趨勢，強調父親參與育兒的程度和方式會隨著孩子成長而變化。這些發現對於親職教育實務和未來父職研究都具有重要意義。

Paternal involvement in the infant and early childhood plays a significant role in child development. This study investigates the dimensions and developmental trajectory of paternal involvement during the infant and toddler period, using data from the 3-month age group of the Kids in Taiwan: National Longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care database. The data span the period when the child was between 3 to 24 months old, incorporating variables related to the father's background and their engagement in parenting activities. The findings reveal that the fundamental components of paternal involvement during this important developmental phase are centered around ''caring and responding to the child'' and ''engaging in play.'' Additionally, these aspects demonstrated measurement invariance over time, suggesting their stability across the developmental trajectory. Results from the latent growth curve modeling unveiled a consistent increase in paternal involvement from 3 to 24 months, with notable individual differences. Fathers who were initially less involved tended to increase their engagement at a faster pace as the child aged. This indicates an adaptation and deepening of the father's role in parenting over time. By shedding light on the patterns and significance of paternal involvement in the early years of a child's life, this research contributes valuable insights for enhancing parenting education and guiding the parenting and child development research in the future.