Effects of Father’s Parental Efficacy on Children’s School Life: Mediating Role of Father’s Educational Support at Home

Abstract

Father participation in child rearing is gaining its importance in the field of child development. Previous literature consistently suggests the importance of parental efficacy and educational support on children`s school life. However, studies which that focus exclusively on the role of the father`s role are highly limited. Based on previous literature, we hypothesized that parental efficacy would directly and indirectly affect children`s school life via parental educational support at home. We aimed to expand on the previous literature by exploring the relations within fathers. Participants were 662 fathers whose children attended elementary, middle, and high school. We measured parental efficacy, educational support at home, and their children`s school life were measured. Descriptive statistics were first conducted to investigate the general features of participants as well as the correlations between study variables. The research model was analyzed using structural equation modeling in AMOS 20.0. Results proved the direct effect of father`s parental efficacy on father`s educational support at home as well as children`s school life. Fathers` educational support at home mediated the effect of parental efficacy on children`s school life. Our results suggests that fathers who perceive themselves as efficient parents provides a higher level of educational support at home for their children; consequently, children of those fathers in turn adjust better in school and achieve higher grades. Also, the father`s parental efficacy also indirectly exerts positive effects on children`s school life via heightened educational support at home. An importance of paternal participation and support in child rearing and education was highly suggested. Relevant policy issues regarding paternal educational support were discussed.