Paternal predictors of emotional empathy and anger in African American men

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between the constructs of father involvement, emotional empathy, attachment, and anger regulation. One hundred African American men were selected from local churches in the area on a voluntary basis. Participants were asked to reflect on their relationship with their fathers during childhood when responding to an assessment of father involvement. Participants also completed assessments related to attachment, emotional empathy, and anger regulation. Results of the study provide support for a positive relationship between father involvement and emotional empathy among participants. Differences among the father involvement subscales were seen with instrumental father involvement having the most significant impact. Results also demonstrated the impact of father involvement on attachment with a positive relationship being found between father involvement and all three attachment styles (secure, avoidant, preoccupied). A relationship between attachment style and empathy was also found with secure attachment being positively related to emotional empathy among participants. Results did not provide support for the relationship between father involvement and anger regulation or secure attachment and anger regulation. Implications for researchers and clinicians are discussed.;KEY WORDS: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, FATHER INVOLVEMENT, EMOTIONAL EMPATHY, ANGER REGULATION, ATTACHMENT.