Final answer:
Work pressures are often the greatest barrier to fathers' full involvement with their children, limiting the time and energy they can dedicate to family due to professional demands and societal expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deciding the greatest barrier to father's full involvement with their children can vary depending on individual circumstances, but work pressures is often cited as a tremendous obstacle. The time devoted to work obligations can significantly impede a father's ability to meet family needs, leading to a conflict between professional and parental roles. With work demands high, fathers may face stress that hampers their ability to engage effectively in their children's lives, thus exerting a powerful influence on the father-child relationship.
Research has indicated that when fathers are more involved in their children's lives, there can be numerous positive outcomes. For instance, boys who have joint arrangements or live with their fathers exhibit less aggression, and girls in similar situations tend to be more mature and responsible. In contrast, many fathers still face societal expectations to prioritize work over family, which can limit their involvement. The impact of these societal norms is further seen in the way men and women experience work and parenting differently. While women have historically grappled with the balance between being a 'good mother' and a 'good worker', fathers seldom encounter this conflict, as their parenting role often isn't perceived as inherently conflicting with their work role.