Movember Launches Family Man, World's First Online Parenting Program For Fathers

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Man, the world's first online parenting program specifically for fathers, launched in the United States by leading men's global health charity Movember.

Family Man is a free, online course designed to equip fathers of children between the ages of 2-8 with the practical skills needed to cope with frustrating situations. Drawing on research-based principles of positive parenting, Family Man uses the latest parenting strategies that support happier homes and better mental health.

"There is a huge amount of research that shows parenting is more effective when it's done as a team," said Jane Endacott, Director of Digital Health Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at Movember. "We know that when dads are fully engaged in parenting decisions, it benefits the whole family."

The interactive program is comprised of three 20-minute animated episodes. Each episode features a father as the main character who is faced with a challenging situation such as a battle over the dinner table or a public tantrum – common meltdowns that can cause friction in households and impact the whole family's mental well being. Users are prompted with a number of possible ways to respond to the situation and an explanation of the pros and cons and likely outcomes of each option coaching fathers through each situation step-by-step.

Adapted from ParentWorksⁱ, a successful program designed by Professor Mark Dadds at the University of Sydney, Family Man has been vetted by a global panel of psychologists and parenting experts.

"Evidence-based parenting programs are effective in reducing behavioral problems, yet few involve the participation of fathers," said Professor Dadds. "Family Man was designed to be accessible to all families and may be especially useful in rural and remote areas, where resources can be hard to access. It can be fully delivered online, without the support of trained practitioners, which is a key barrier for many parents."

A recently launched survey by Movember of 1,600 fathers across North America including 800 US fathers from across the country showed that:

• Nearly 2 in 3 US dads (63%) said they would be very or extremely likely to seek advice from an online website dedicated to fathers
• 54% of fathers felt there was a lack of online parenting resources for fathers
• 47% of fathers felt parenting advice from websites and social media are not aimed at them

Additional survey findings helped inform the need for a tool like Family Man:

• 94% of dads reported that they feel more engaged with their children during the pandemic
• 1 in 5 (19%) US fathers say their child's behavior at home is somewhat manageable while 16% of US fathers say their child's behavior in public is somewhat manageable
• 31% of fathers reported feeling more impatient since having children

The  State of the World Father's report indicates that approximately 80 percent of men will become biological fathers at some point in their lives. In addition, a previous study conducted by Movember also found that 67% of soon-to-be fathers and more than half of all men say that men are under more pressure nowadays to be good fathers.

For more information, visit familyman.movember.com 

Media contact: PR Manager, Sheryl Tirol: [email protected] / 310-450-3331

About Movember
Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives.

Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health. To donate or learn more, please visit movember.com

These are some of the findings released by Maru/Blue Public Opinion from a survey undertaken between January 22 and 28 2021 by Maru/Blue of 800 randomly selected US adult fathers who are Maru Springboard of America online panelists. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 3.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results provide representation across the US regions. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared tote data tables are due to rounding.

ⁱ Fatherhood and Social Connections: Global Research Report of Male Social Connection, Research by IPSOS MORI commissioned by Movember, June 2019. https://cdn.movember.com/uploads/images/News/UK/Movember%20Fathers%20%26%20Social%20Connections%20Report.pdf

Levtov R, van der-Gaag N, Greene M, Kaufman M, and Barker G (2015). State of the World's Fathers: Executive Summary: A MenCare Advocacy Publication. Washington, DC: Promundo, Rutgers, Save the Children, Sonke Gender Justice, and the MenEngage Alliance. https://stateoftheworldsfathers.org/report/state-of-the-worlds-fathers-helping-men-step-up-to-care/

ⁱ Fletcher R, Freeman E, Matthey S (2011) The impact of behavioural parent training on fathers' parenting: a meta-analysis of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. Father J Theory Res Pract Men Father 9(3):291–312

ⁱ Piotrowska, P.J., Tully, L.A., Collins, D.A.J. et al. ParentWorks: Evaluation of an Online, Father-Inclusive, Universal Parenting Intervention to Reduce Child Conduct Problems. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 51, 503–513 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00934-0

SOURCE Movember

Related Links

https://us.movember.com/