The purpose of this study is to examine how father's psychological variable of role awareness affects parenting participation. Data were collected by the survey in fathers of 363 children in public kindergartens and national/public and private nurseries and analyzed by using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that fathers perceiving their role of educating (for cognitive development, social skills, and physical health) and of meeting the needs (needs for health protection, and emotional needs) participated actively in parenting and that those perceiving their role of meeting the needs for food, clothing, and shelter participated passively in parenting. On the basis of these results, strategic and practical implications were given to induce fathers to participate more actively in parenting.
Keywords: Father; Parenting participation; Psychological variable; Role awareness.