Introduction

This collection of studies, representing 15 empirical and theoretical reports from researchers and practitioners in eight countries, is the first of its kind to be organised around the singular theme of attachment to fathers. Reports are organised within two primary strands: (1) the conceptualisation and measurement of the child—father relationship in infancy and early childhood, with a particular focus on attachment processes, and (2) the examination of predictors and outcomes of child—father attachment within an array of systems, from individual to family to community settings. We provide a brief theoretical overview for each strand followed by an introduction to the reports included in each section.