The mediating role of parenting efficacy in the association between preschool father-child relationship and parental stress

Neslihan Durmuşoğlu Saltali

doi:10.17275/per.20.31.7.2

Abstract

The most important relationships in the life of the preschool children are their relationships with their parents. Until recently, when the child's relationship with their parents is considered, the relationship with their mother has been taken into account, while recently the father-child relationship has become one of the subjects that researchers are increasingly interested in and thus is emphasized. In this study, it was aimed to determine the mediating role of parenting efficacy in the association between father-child relationship and parental stress in preschool period. The research was carried out on fathers who have children between 48-72 months who continue preschool education. The study group consisted of 421 fathers selected among these fathers by random sampling method. Child-Parent Relationship Scale, Parenting Efficacy Scale and Parental Stress Scale were used to collect the research data. The results obtained from the research are as follows: Firstly, parental stress is a significant predictor of father-child relationship and parenting efficacy. Secondly, parenting efficacy is a significant predictor of father-child relationship. Finally, parenting efficacy has a partial mediating role in the relationship between father-child relationship and parenting efficacy. The results of the research may lead to the development of policies and practices that support parenting competence in terms of reducing the parental stress of fathers with preschool children and improving their relationship with their children.

Highlights

The family is the smallest social unit of society, consisting of relationships that are affected by each other and affect each other
On the other hand, stated in the separation-individuation theory that especially the father is attributed importance through father-child relationship as the baby is aware of the existence of someone other than the mother for the first time, and this has a crucial place in the child's separation-individuation process (Mahler & La Perriere, 1965)
In the context of this aim, first of all, the relationships between research variables are examined. Statistics in this context demonstrated that there is a negative relationship between father-child relationship and parental stress, and parental stress is a significant predictor of father-child relationship

Summary

Introduction

The family is the smallest social unit of society, consisting of relationships that are affected by each other and affect each other. It contains relationships between husband and wife, parent-child and siblings. According to Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological systems (1979), the relationship of the child with the parent is one of the relationships that affect the child in the microsystem closely. In his psychoanalytic theory, Freud emphasizes the importance of preschool relationships and experiences in the personality development of the child (Geçtan, 1993). On the other hand, stated in the separation-individuation theory that especially the father is attributed importance through father-child relationship as the baby is aware of the existence of someone other than the mother for the first time, and this has a crucial place in the child's separation-individuation process (Mahler & La Perriere, 1965)

Methods

Results

Conclusion