Linking maternal gatekeeping to child outcomes in dual-earner families in China: the mediating role of father involvement

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the positive effects of father involvement on children outcomes, mothers may hold inconsistent attitudes toward father involvement in childcare. Taking mothers’ diverse attitudes and behaviours into account, Puhlman and Pasley [(2013). Rethinking maternal gatekeeping. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 5(3), 176–193] defined maternal gatekeeping as a multi-dimensional construct which includes control, discouragement as well as encouragement. Following their framework, the current work explored how this father–mother relationship and father–child involvement affected children’s development. Analysis of survey data from 214 families in Beijing indicated that (1) mothers’ positive gatekeeping behaviours appeared more often than negative ones; (2) fathers involved more in rule teaching and emotional communication than in recreational activities and daily caring; (3) mothers’ encouraging and discouraging behaviours were significantly correlated with father involvement; (4) maternal gatekeeping could influence children’s social emotional development through the mediating effect of father involvement. The findings suggest the importance of co-parenting in dual-earner families.