Abstract: In this study, we aim to analyze, the attitudes of fathers living in urban and rural areas towards their preschool period children of 5-6 years old age groups. The 381 fathers, who were chosen thorough random sampling method, 117 of whom lived in rural regions and 264 of whom lived in urban were taken as our sample set. Family Attitude Inventory developed by Oner and Torun was used in data acquisition. In the analysis of data, frequencies and percentages were graphically determined. Two dimensional and double-way variance analysis and in some cases one way variance analysis were used to determine inter-variable differential. In cases, where the results of ANOVA (Analyses of Variance) were meaningful, Scheffe test with a significance level of 0.05 was used to differentiate between groups. Our results suggest that attitudes of the fathers are significantly influenced by allocation unit, father’s age and learning level as well as child’s birth sequence and gender (p<0.05).

INTRODUCTION

To give a birth to a child, a father and a mother are needed. However, both of the parents have a role in children’s care and keeping the child away from danger (Erdogan, 2004). Parents are primary teachers and trainers of their children. They help their children to develop values and skills that are needed to be successful in life and grow as healthy adults (Bridge, 2001; Dinatale, 2002).

As in many other countries, mother is responsible for child’s care and education; whereas father is responsible for providing economical needs of the household in Turkey (Evans, 1997; Riley et al., 2000; PTA, 2005). However, nowadays, it is not possible to separate duties between parents by definite lines due to changes of current living conditions and modified roles of man and woman. It was realized that the only person looking after children should not only be the mother herself. Both of the parents should share the responsibility for child care and development (Myers, 1996; Cagdas, 2003; Sahin, 2003). It is observed that the father’s responsibilities are not only limitied to supporting his children economically but also, extends in a variety of subjects such as being a good friend, being protective, maintaning the discipline, supporting the mother emotionally and taking responsibility in daily housework.

Various researches have indicated that as a result of change in society’s anticipation related to the paternity under the modifying circumstances, fathers now taking an active share in bringing up children. This as a result, has favorable influences on the development of children (Mcbride and Lutz, 2003; Mcbride et al., 2004; Allen and Daly, 2002). Although, close and well-qualified relationship between father and child has constructive impact on child’s personality and cognitive development, permissive attitude of father increases the probability of child’s behaviour disorder (Yildiz, 2006). While, the children, whose fathers exhibit an interest and love for them are more successful in social relations, the children having poor relations with their fathers may develop the concept of adverse ego. Adverse personality traits such as bashfullness and diffidence can arise in child if father is very authoritative and rarely pays attention to the child (Sahin, 2003).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we aim to analyze fathers attitudes towards their children with their demographic characteristics in accordance with allocation unit. For this aim 381 fathers, chosen thorough the method of random sampling, 117 of whom lived in rural and 264 of whom lived in urban areas, were taken as sample set with children at 5-6 age group. The study was done in Karabuk, Turkey.

Family Attitude Inventory (FAI) consisting of 45 articles and subdimensions such as Democratic/ authorative Child Rearing Methods (DECRE), Identification with Child (IDCHI), Compatibility Behaviour (COBE) and Social Mobility (SOMO) was applied as data gathering means. Scale was made up of four options of likert type in the form of ‘I do not agree’, ‘I agree slightly’, ‘I agree to some extent’ and ‘I agree completely’. The high points of FAI are considered as an identification of democratic parental attitude that sets up better relationships with child, complies with social norms more and holds the characteristics of a compatible social mobility (Ozdemir, 1991; Oner, 1996). In the analysis of data, frequencies and percentages were graphically determined. Two dimensional and double-way variance analyses were applied to determine inter-variable differential. In cases that the results of ANOVA were meaningful, Scheffe test was used to differentiate between groups. A significance level of 0.05 was used in statistical studies.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this study, the findings related to the demographical characteristics and attitudes of fathers living in rural and urban areas.

In Table 1, 71.1% of fathers participating in research are in 30-38 age group. 39.3% of fathers living in rural regions are primary school graduate and 40.2% of fathers living in the urban are university graduates. By analyzing the Table 1, it can be concluded that the education level of fathers living in the urban is higher than of those living in rural areas.

As Table 2, it is seen that 50.1% of children are male and 49.9% are female. Additionally, 55.1% of children are first borns while, 54.6% of them are second siblings.

As Table 3, difference between total points and subdimensions except for fathers’ FAI DECRE subdimension point and allocation unit is meaningful (p<0.05). Points of fathers living in rural areas are higher than of those living in the urban areas. Fathers living in the rural areas communicate well with their children, display more compatibility behaviour and social mobility than those living in the urban areas. The difference between fathers’ age and FAI total point and COBE subdimension point was found meaningful (p<0.05).

Table 1:	Distribution of fathers according to their age and academic background

Table 2:	Distribution of children according to their gender. birth sequence (seniority) and the number of sibling

Table 3:	Variance analysis results of fathers’ family attitude inventory points according to allocation unit and father’s age
*p<0.05

Table 4:	Variance analysis results of fathers’ family attitude inventory points according to allocation unit and academic background
*p<0.05

COBE points of fathers at the age of 30 or over living in rural regions and of those at the age of 29 or below living in the urban are higher than that of the others. COBE subdimension points of fathers at the age of 39 or over living in rural regions and of those at the the age of 29 or below living in the urban are higher and these fathers display more compatible behaviours to social norms. Considering all fathers together, according to Scheffe test, it was found out that compatibility behaviours of fathers at the age of 29 or below were better than that of fathers at 30-38 age group. This result can be due to reasons such as having a child for the first time and affected by modified life conditions which as a result contribute to the increased responsibility for child rearing.

In Table 4, difference between fathers’ academic background and FAI total point and all subdimension points results in meaningful findings (p<0.05).

Table 5:	Variance analysis results of fathers’ family attitude inventory points according to allocation unit and child’s gender
*p<0.05

Considering all fathers together, according to Scheffe test, it is observed that primary school graduate fathers were less democratic than secondary school graduate, high school graduate, or university graduate fathers. It was also observed that university graduate fathers had fewer attitudes of compatibility behaviour, social mobility and identification with child than primary school graduate, secondary school graduate, or high school graduate fathers. As a result, it can be concluded that democratic attitudes changes with educational background. The case that university graduate fathers hold fewer attitudes of compatibility to social norms, a compatible social mobility and identification with their child may result from the fact that a life style removed from society is adopted with modifying social environment. Impact of allocation unit on COBE behaviour was also resulted in meaningful findings (p<0.05). It is observed that as the education level of fathers incease in rural and urban areas, points of COBE subdivision decline. It may be concluded that primary school graduate fathers display more compatibility behaviours to social norms.

The results of the research on this topics indicate that as parents education level rise, their democratic attitudes and behaviors of exhibiting love increase. In contrast, parents adopt more pressurized discipline as the education level declines (Guneysu, 1982; Mizrakci, 1994; Yalkin, 1994; Ari et al., 1995; Sendogdu, 2000). These findings support the research findings about DECRE subdimension of FAI.

In Table 5, we can see that the difference between children’s gender and DECRE subdimension point of fathers’ FAI is meaningful (F (1:377) = p<0.05). DECRE total point (X = 27.72) of fathers’ having sons is higher than that (X = 27. 21) of fathers having daughters. Fathers behave towards their sons more democratic than towards their daughters. Based on the average points, it is confronted most widely in especially rural regions that fathers behave towards their daughters very authoritatively. It may be arising from the fact that Turkish society has still tendency to behave more indulgently towards boys in consideration of traditional construction.

Regarding the discussion above, various researches have indicated that gender of the child affects the relations between parents and child and that parents’ reactions change according to the gender of the child (Guneysu, 1982; Mizrakci, 1984; Argun, 1995; Fincham et al., 1998; Ildes, 1990; Ozyurek, 2004). However, some other researches show that gender of child does not have a significant influence on fathers’ attitudes and behaviors (Evans, 1997).

In Table 6, we can see that the difference between child’s birth sequence and COBE subdimension point of fathers’ Family Attitude Inventory was found meaningful. (F (2:375) =3.85, p<0.05. Generally, COBE behaviour of fathers having a child born in the third or later than this sequence is more constructive than that of fathers having a child born in the first rate or second rate.

Considering the impact of allocation unit in Table 5 and 6, it is realized that difference between allocation unit and IDCHI, COBE and SOMO subdivision points of Fathers’ FAI is meaningful (p<0.05). The points of fathers living in the rural regions were found higher than those of the fathers living in the urban areas. Fathers living in the rural areas set up more identification, display more compatibility behaviours to society and more social mobility than those living in the urban areas.

In Table 7, we conclude that difference between child’s sibling number and total and subdimension points of Fathers’ FAI results in meaningless values (p>0.05). Joint impact of Fathers’ FAI total point and subdivision points of IDCHI and SOMO and children’s sibling numbers and allocation unit is meaningful (p<0.05).

Table 6:	Variance analyses results of fathers’ family attitude inventory points according to allocation unit and child’s birth sequence (seniority)
*p<0.05

Table 7:	Variance analysis results of fathers’ family attitude inventory points according to the allocation unit and child’s sibling number
*p<0.05

IDCHI, COBE and SOMO subdimension points of fathers living in rural regions and having 3 or more children were found higher than that of fathers living in urban areas. Society, but not individuals, dominate child rearing in rural regions by allocating responsibility to children very early (Oktay, 1987). Moreover, while the high number of children poses no problem in rural regions, it can probably decline the domestic interaction because of reasons such as fathers’ working in yielding second jobs in the urban areas.

Karadeniz (1994) analysed the relations between parental attitudes perceived as democratic and authora-tive and various professional values. As a result, he found that families with fewer children are more inclined to display democratic attitudes. This finding varies according to the research findings.

CONCLUSION

Fathers, who have a crucial responsibility in childrearing are expected to develop positive behaviours for childrearing attitudes. In the light of this discussion, we suggest to give priority for family education regarding the importance of democratic attitude in childrearing without considering allocation unit. Especially, primary school gradate fathers must have the priority for this kind of education. Also, there may be some informational studies for university graduate fathers to teach them how to spend more qualified time by having more identification with their children. For this purpose, the public television that may call the attention of fathers can be used. Moreover, educational programs to which fathers or both of the parents can attend in mass education institutions can be established. Father can be given the chance to share the responsibility for the education of the child, i.e, planning some activities for fathers to attend to family collaboration studies at schools. It may also, be appropriate to inform mothers about the fact that fathers should share the childrearing responsibility. In this respect, mothers should help fathers about this subject. Also, there may be educational programs about childrearing and parenthood for young people or for those expecting to be parents.

A similar study can be implemented on fathers of high and low household income. By increasing the sample numbers, similar kind of studies can be conducted especially with young and old fathers, primary school graduate and university graduate fathers.

SUGGESTIONS

Because of the changing life conditions, childcare and childrearing is not the responsibility of mother only; on the contrary mother and father should share the responsibility. The attitude of father is as important as the attitude of the mother in child’s well development in every field.

In this study, we aimed to analyze the democraphic features of fathers having 5-6 years old children and their attitudes towards their children according to the allocation unit. According to the research results, we observed that, the age and educational background of father, gender and birth sequence of the child, rural or urban residential life have important affects on the attitude of father towards their children.

It has been observed that fathers living in rural areas compared to the fathers in urban areas set up more identification with their children; show more social compatibility behaviour and social mobility. It has been found that the living environment does not have any effect on the democratic behaviour of fathers towards their children.

When we compare their educational background, we see that primary school graduate fathers are less democratic than high school and university graduate fathers. On the other hand, it has been observed that university graduate fathers have less identification with their children and show less compatibility behaviour and social mobility. Furthermore, it has been found that fathers are more democratic to their sons than to their daughters and these fathers, having children who are third children or over, show more social behaviour than those having children who are first or secondborns. It has been revealed that the number of children does not necessarily affect the attitude of fathers.