Students’ Perceptions of Paternal Investments (Data from 10 Regions of Russia)

Modern parenting studies not only indicate the equal importance of maternal and paternal care, but also highlight the specific influence of fathers as a key source of family well-being and positive child development outcomes. Aim of this study is comparing of perceptions of paternal investment among young people from 10 regions of Russia and to identify factors associated with paternal behavior. The work examined three types of paternal care depending on factors such as gender, region of residence, father's education level, religious affiliation, education level, and family income. The total sample included 3,174 people and was collected among students of various universities from 10 regions of Russia. The work used a short version of the "Paternal Care" questionnaire and the scale of economic parameters from the "Early Environmental Influences" questionnaire. A large sample from 10 regions of Russia showed regional differences in types of paternal care. The main factors increasing paternal investment in children were: having a complete family, religious affiliation, father's education, family wealth, and the number of children in the family. The study also highlights the importance of the paternal role in modern populations and reveals regional differences in paternal care and involvement in raising children