Ultraorthodox Jewish Fathers in Israel: Predictors of Involvement and Acceptance

Based on Belsky’s model of parenting determinants, paternal involvement and acceptance were compared among 134 ultraorthodox Jewish fathers and 144 secular Jewish fathers. The predictors examined were experiences of care and control from own fathers, perceived parental competence, and social support and child characteristics as moderators. Results show that, although the two groups of fathers did not differ in their involvement with and acceptance of their children, experiences of care and control from own fathers had affected their paternal practices differently—yielding greater power among the ultraorthodox fathers. Finally, child difficulty moderated the link between perceived paternal competence and paternal involvement, as well as between experiences of control of own father and paternal acceptance. The findings were discussed in within the cultural context of the ultraorthodox family.