Daughters Of Fathers Research Articles

Parents' early experience and children's years of schooling: The long-term impact of son preference

It is well documented that years of schooling are largely influenced by the family. However, few studies have examined the intergenerational effect of individuals' early experience on their offspring's educational attainment. Using China's 1959–1961 famine as an exogenous shock, we construct a difference-in-difference model based on different famine severities across provinces and cohorts. We find that daughters of rural famine fathers have lower educational attainment. Mechanism analysis shows that male famine survivors are more likely to be observed in families with a strong son preference, which is passed on to their daughters and damages their educational attainment. The effect is more pronounced especially when the daughter is not an only child, has a brother, or the second child in the family is a son. The above results are robust to different specifications and alternative measures, suggesting that individuals' early experience may negatively affect the offspring's educational attainment through an entrenched cultural concept.

Search for additional variability in the herd of Holstein cows

Relevance. When breeding a large herd of the Holstein breed, the improvement of traits in the selection system is reflected, the integral basis (part of the basis) of which was belonging to the line. Against the background of a reduction in the number of lines, the selection of a limited number of sires related to each other into the herd, and the breeding of daughters from them by various types of rebounds, an increase in milk yield and mass fraction of protein (MPF) over three generations is reflected.Methods. The indices of the genetic value of sires in the population were evaluated according to the author's method, while taking into account the indicators of mothers and peers of the same herd. Comparison of the levels of variability of milk productivity traits in terms of standard deviations (±s) in breeding groups.Results. The relative increase in milk yield per generation for the highest lactations was 8.9–15.4% (P < 0.001), and MDL – 1.3–3.2% (P < 0.01). A comparison was made of groups of peer-daughters obtained by targeted selection of homo- and heterozygous fathers according to genetic markers of controlled EAB loci. Another aspect was the high standard deviation of milk yields in the group of daughters of homozygous fathers by 19% against the group of heterozygous, and among the crossed offspring – by 8.6% against intraline. It is assumed that this happened due to the introduction of new and rare alleles with sires into the herd.

On disobedient daughters of perpetrator fathers: ‘Transfilial’ activisms across the Argentine human rights movement

This piece explores why and how the praxis of disobedience, as articulated by the daughters of the perpetrators of state terrorism during Argentina’s last dictatorship (1976–1983), might be read as an instance of queering memory. The analysis focuses on the trajectories of Liliana Furio (a founder member of the Historias Desobedientes collective) and Mariana Dopazo (ex-daughter of one of the dictatorship’s most infamous perpetrators) to illustrate the differing ways in which the mandate of blood has been challenged through public acts of defiliation. Based on our documentary project material, we consider the ways in which the emergence of these disobedient daughters enacts a collective ‘coming out’ and unprecedented disruption of the normative imaginaries of bloodline ties that have traditionally shaped the local aftermath of violence. We argue that their performance of defiliation puts forward a queer arrangement that unsettles the established landscape of human rights activism in Argentina and beyond.

The strategies of parents who tell their daughters about the possibility of being a haemophilia carrier

Abstract Introduction Women who carry the haemophilia gene have a genetic risk of having a son with haemophilia, as well as the risk of abnormal bleeding; thus, there is an increasing interest in ‘carriers’ as subjects that potentially require medical support. However, in Japan, only about half of individuals with a family history of haemophilia inform their daughters that they may be carriers. Aims The purpose of this study was to identify strategies used by parents to inform their daughters about their possibility of being haemophilia carriers. Method Parents of daughters with confirmed or suspected carrier status, based on family history, were included in the study. A semi-structured interview was conducted, and data were analysed qualitatively using an inductive approach. Results Eight parents (two men, six women) were included. The mean age of participants was 58 (range: 44-70) years; interviews lasted 76 minutes on average (range: 49-100 minutes). Data showed that parents align their values with each other and share information about their daughters between them (information sharing between partners). They also adopt roles according to sex. Mothers often played the primary role in the process of sharing information with their daughters as they are of the same sex. Since all daughters of fathers with haemophilia would be confirmed carriers, fathers were more concerned about how their daughters might react and had more guilt about their daughters. Parents also attempted to prepare for informing their daughters about haemophilia by observing their stage of mental development to determine the optimal timing to have these conversations. When sharing information about haemophilia, parents were careful to inform their daughters while considering their feelings to ensure that daughters received the information in a positive light. After sharing information about haemophilia, parents played the role of ‘daughter’s supporter’ by confirming their level of understanding and their feelings and considering possible ways to support them in the future. Conclusion Assessment of carrier status can only begin if parents tell their daughters about the possibility of being a haemophilia carrier. Based on the five strategies identified, medical professionals should provide parents with information about haemophilia carriers and sharing information on genetic risk.

Изменчивость показателей состава тела детей школьного возраста из семей различного социально-экономического статуса Саратовской области

Numerous publications have noted a general pattern: then higher are the parents’ educational and professional level, and then larger and heavier are their children, which is associated with a higher family income. The purpose of this work is to consider the variability of body composition indicators in schoolchildren 7–17 years old from the Saratov region depending the characteristics of the family’s socio-economic status proposed by us, and to evaluate the impact of the level of material prosperity on the main indicators of the physical development of children and adolescents. Materials and methods. The materials of the comprehensive survey in 2002–2004 children and adolescents 7–17 years old from the cities of the Saratov region, with a total number of 4266 people are used. The average normalized values of total sizes and 17 body composition indicators calculated by different methods were compared in each of 42 groups of boys or girls formed according to 3 gradations by one of 7 socio-economic factors. Results and discussion. There are significant (95%) differences in levels of total body size in children of both sexes, corresponding to the literature data: the higher the indicators of family income, the greater the values of morphological signs, magnitude of differences up to 0.7δ. Boys from large families have the smallest body sizes and very weak development of the fat component. With an increase in the educational and professional levels of mothers, sons have higher total fat-free mass, total water and percentage of fat mass, magnitude of differences 0.4δ–0.7δ. In girls, with an increase in the material income, educational and professional levels of mothers, almost all indicators are growing, except for body density, percentage of fat-free mass and percentage of water, magnitude of differences 0.4δ–0.7δ. Daughters of fathers with secondary professional level have the highest rates of development of the fat-free component (magnitude of differences 0.6δ) and average body size. Conclusions. There is sexual dimorphism in the variability of body composition indicators in school-aged children from families of various socio-economic status. In boys, the relationship between absolute indicators of body composition (reflecting body sizes) and factors of financial income of the family according to the traditional scheme is expressed. In girls – between relative indicators (reflecting the development of fat deposition) and the professional level of parents. In children of parents with high occupational levels, the ratio of fat to muscle component may indicate latent obesity. The method of calculating the body composition does not significantly affect the results of the analysis.

Parents' age at birth and daughters' time to pregnancy: a study within the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort.

Is parents' age at birth associated with daughters' fecundability? Daughters born to mothers <25 years or fathers ≥35 years had slightly lower fecundability. Two recent studies reported lower fecundability in women born to mothers <20 years, which may be partly due to daughters of young mothers being less likely to plan their pregnancies. A retrospective cohort study of 58496 pregnancy planners (4290 of whom conceived with treatment) and 14194 non-planners enrolled in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) between 2000 and 2008, linked with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Participants were born in Norway between 1967 and 1990. We estimated fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% CI as a function of both parents' (F1) age at the daughter's (F2) birth among non-treated planners and the relative risk of time to pregnancy (TTP) ≥12 months or treatment among all planners. We explored whether daughters of young mothers were under-represented among planners, compared with the underlying population. Finally, we estimated FRs after adding non-planners, randomly assigned to conceiving in the first cycle with probabilities of 0.60 and 0.70. For both mother and father, the reference category was 25-29 years. Fecundability was slightly lower among daughters of older fathers (FRs (95% CI): 0.95 (0.92, 0.98) for F1 father's age 35-39 years and 0.93 (0.89, 0.97) for ≥40 years) and daughters of young mothers (0.92 (0.89, 0.96) for F1 mother's age <20 years and 0.97 (0.95, 0.99) for 20-24 years). Results were similar for the composite outcome TTP ≥ 12 months or treatment, although driven by TTP ≥ 12. Compared with Norwegian-born women with ≥1 pregnancy, planners born to mothers <20 years were underrepresented. Including non-planners with very high fecundability weakened the association with mother's age <20 years. This was a pregnancy cohort with retrospectively reported information on planning and TTP. Selection bias appears unlikely to fully explain the association with mother's age <20 years. Daughters of young mothers or older fathers may have slightly lower fecundability. If corroborated, the finding about older paternal age is relevant, given the widespread tendency to delay childbearing. This work was partly funded by the Research Council of Norway (project no. 320656), and through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme (project no. 262700). M.C.M. has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 947684). No competing interests. N/A.

Pubertal maturation is independent of family structure but daughters of divorced (but not dead) fathers start reproduction earlier

Several evolutionary hypotheses predict that girls growing up without a father present in the family mature and start reproduction earlier because father absence is a cue for environmental harshness and/or uncertainty that favours switching to a precocious life-history strategy. Most studies supporting these hypotheses have been performed in contemporary Western societies where the father absence is usually caused by divorce or abandonment. We performed a large retrospective cohort study in the mid-twentieth century Estonia, where different types of orphans and daughters of divorced fathers were exactly matched with girls from bi-parental families based on age, birth year, urban/rural origin and socioeconomic position of the family. Pubertal maturation, assessed on the basis of the breast development rate, did not associate with family structure. Daughters of divorced fathers started reproduction on average 9.2 months earlier than girls from bi-parental families and also tended to start reproduction earlier than girls whose fathers were dead. This finding is consistent with the view that fathers prone to divorce (and/or their spouses) differ from the rest of the population and also from the fathers prone to early death in some important characteristics that affect the reproductive rates of their daughters.

Negotiating citizenship and reforging Muslim identities: the case of young women of Japanese-Pakistani Parentage

ABSTRACT Drawing on longitudinal research, this article investigates the processes of citizenship negotiations by the daughters of Japanese mothers and Pakistani fathers. The respondents’ narratives indicate a disjuncture between their full citizenship and their sense of belonging. While they are treated as others in schools and local communities in Japan, within the family, the daughters feel deprived of freedom due to their migrant fathers’ patriarchal control. Yet they claim rights and freedom by reconfiguring their Muslim selves. By bringing the family to the fore of the analysis, I show that the daughters’ religious journeys are interwoven with power dynamics between citizen mothers and migrant fathers who, as their life cycle progresses, reposition themselves in families, communities, and nation-states. In conclusion, I argue for the importance of combining a family lens and multi-tiered approach to conceptualize identity formation as an integral part of citizenship struggles.

Fathers’ Migration and Academic Achievement among Left-behind Children in India: Evidence of Continuity and Change in Gender Preferences

This article examines the link between paternal migration and children’s arithmetic and reading achievement, using the 2005 and 2012 waves of the national India Human Development Survey (IHDS). Additionally, it investigates if fathers’ migration is associated with increased investments in children’s education and time spent on educational activities. Using propensity score matching, this article finds that fathers’ current and long-term migration, defined as being a migrant in both IHDS waves, is positively associated with children’s education. However, the benefits of paternal migration are experienced more frequently by sons than by daughters. Sons of migrant fathers demonstrate higher reading and arithmetic achievement, benefit from higher education expenditure, and spend more time on educational activities than sons of non-migrant fathers. Daughters of migrant fathers exhibit higher reading skills and receive higher investments in education but are no different from daughters of non-migrant fathers in time spent on educational activities and arithmetic achievement. These results suggest a gendered process at play in remittance utilization, with sons experiencing a more robust remittance effect. Nevertheless, it is promising to note that daughters also gain from the economic and social remittances received by left-behind families in a modernizing India.

Effect of parental phenotype on dispersal, growth and maturation of offspring in wild masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou)

Offspring traits are influenced by complex interactions among parent genotypes and phenotypes. However, ecological studies of these effects have tended to focus on one of either maternal or paternal influences. In this study, we investigated the effects of both parental phenotypes on offspring dispersal, growth and early sexual maturity in masu salmon. We used wild-caught parental fish in a half-sib mating design that allowed comparison of offspring from males of two different life-history types (precocious males that had lived only in fresh water and anadromous males that had migrated to the sea). These males were mated with anadromous females and the eggs planted in natural streams in three different years. Natal dispersal distance depended on offspring sex, body size and paternal life history: female offspring moved further downstream than males, whilst daughters of precocious fathers tended to move further downstream than those of anadromous sires. There was a maternal effect on offspring growth, with larger eggs resulting in larger offspring at least until these became precociously mature at the end of the first summer. However, while faster growing male offspring were more likely to become precociously mature, there was no evidence that the probability of precocious maturation was influenced by parental life history. We conclude that, although body size of young salmon was significantly influenced by egg size and there were sex differences in dispersal, their growth rate and divergence in life history types were mainly environmentally driven.

Metabolic Syndrome in Offspring of Parents with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that includes abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Objectives: The objective of this study was to reassess the parent-offspring association of MetS since the available findings are still controversial. Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles. All studies comparing MetS status between the offspring of parents with MetS and offspring of parents without MetS were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 9 studies met the inclusion criteria and they were analyzed. Offspring of at least 1 parent with MetS had a higher risk of MetS (OR 3.88, 95% CI 2.58–5.83, p < 0.001). Sons and daughters of fathers with MetS both had a higher risk of MetS (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.70–3.12, p < 0.001, and OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.37–2.18, p < 0.001, respectively). Sons and daughters of mothers with MetS both had a higher risk of MetS (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.37–2.76, p = 0.0002, and OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.54–2.35, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that there is a higher risk of MetS in the offspring of parents with MetS. However, there was no differential association of MetS according to gender and/or age of the offspring.

Wiek menarche dziewcząt z województwa lubuskiego w odniesieniu do środowiska zamieszkania, wykształcenia rodziców, liczby dzieci w rodzinie i standardu życia

The aim of this article is to assess the maturity level of girls in the Lubusz Voivodeship depending on the living environment, parents’ education, the number of children in the family and the standard of living. The material consists of the results of research conducted among 10–18 year-old girls (after menarcheal age) in 2015–2017 in selected primary, middle and upper secondary schools. A total of 3,525 girls were examined. The data were collected by means of a diagnostic survey, using the retrospective method, the research technique was a questionnaire, and the research tool was a questionnaire. Basic statistical characteristics for each variable, one-way analysis of variance, significance level of differences and a test of independence were calculated. The questionnaire was also validated with the reliability coefficient of 0.68, which qualifies it for use in cross-sectional studies. As a result of the analysis of the material, it was found that the following girls matured the earliest those from medium-size and small towns, daughters of fathers with higher or vocational education, daughters of mothers with higher education, girls growing up in families with one child, girls from the richest families.

What shape great expectations? Gender and social-origin effects on expectation of university graduation

Female educational attainment has progressively caught up with male educational attainment in many OECD countries. Expectations of university graduation have correspondingly been found higher among female adolescents than among male ones. Resorting to individual-level data drawn from PISA 2003, we study the extent to which female advantage diverges across levels of parental education. We find evidence that female advantage in terms of expectations of university graduation is higher for children of lower social origin. Merging individual-level data (PISA 2003) with data on systems of education, gender egalitarianism and gender labour-market equality drawn from different sources, and applying both a two-step approach and three-level random intercept multilevel modelling to the resulting dataset, we then explore if these country-level factors explain the positive effect of gender at lower levels of parental education. We do not find that the system of education plays any role in this respect, but there is some evidence that gender labour-market inequality stimulates higher educational expectations among daughters of lowly educated fathers (compensatory effect).

Socioeconomic factors and lifestyle affecting the variability of menstrual cycle characteristics in women from Central Poland

Regularity, length of the cycle and duration of menstrual flow are a reflection of women health. The purpose of the research was to assess the relationships between socioeconomic status, cycle length, duration of menses, regularity and dysmenorrhea. A survey was conducted among 896 healthy women from Łódź and Warsaw (Poland), aged 15.71–26.98. Women who were menarche at least 3 years ago were asked to complete the survey. Women were asked about cycle length (number of days), duration of menstrual flow, regularity of the cycle, dysmenorrhea, birth place, parental education level, attendance at physical education classes, participation in additional sports activities, self-assessment of stress levels at home and at school/university, and smoking. For data analysis, t-test, analysis of variance, and chi-square were used, and p&lt;0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. There were no significant relationships between the mean cycle length, regularity and the environmental factors, except for differences in the average length of the menstrual cycle in women from Łódź who attend additional sports activities. Women who are more physically active are characterized by a shorter menstrual cycle. In terms of the length of the menstrual flow, daughters of better educated fathers were characterized by longer menses. In contrast, dysmenorrhea was associated with longer menstrual periods and longer menstrual bleeding, as well as with higher levels of stress, both at home and at school. Environmental factors affected the features of menstruation cycles in women from Central Poland.

Abstract 644: Ancestral paternal obesity: Systemic versus local effects on offspring mammary tissue development and tumorigenesis

Abstract Background: Obesity and overweight are risk factors for breast cancer, particularly in the post-menopausal years. We recently reported that having a history of ancestral overweight from the paternal lineage is enough to increase breast cancer susceptibility in daughters. Using a mouse model, we demonstrated that paternal consumption of an obesity inducing diet (OID) altered mammary gland development, increased mammary carcinogenesis and disrupted metabolic parameters in the female offspring, compared to the female offspring of fathers who consumed only control (CO) diet. Given both the systemic and local the mammary tissue alterations observed, we aimed to investigate in more details why daughters of overweight fathers are at increased risk for breast cancer. More specifically, we used mammary gland transplantation experiments to study whether this ancestrally-induced breast cancer predisposition is linked to systemic factors and/or mammary tissue confined changes in daughters. Material and methods: Male mice were exposed either to a control (CO) or to high-fat (OID) diet. CO and OID male mice were then mated with female mice fed CO diet exclusively. Female offspring of both CO and OID male mice underwent a mammary gland transplantation surgery. Briefly, female offspring had their mammary fat pad area between the nipple and the proximal lymph node excised. Afterwards, mammary tissue fragments (1 mm3) of a donor mouse, either CO or OID female offspring, were implanted into a pocket made in the cleared fat pad. The transplantations were performed from CO female offspring donors to both CO [CO(CO)] and OID [OID(CO)] female offspring hosts, as well as from OID female offspring donors to both CO [CO(OID)] and OID [OID(OID)] female offspring hosts. Approximately 10 weeks post-surgery, the mammary glands were collected, photographed and analyzed using ImageJ software to determine branching density, epithelial elongation and number of Terminal End Buds. Cell proliferation was assessed by ki-67 and cell apoptosis was measured on ImageJ software. Results: Our preliminary data shows that CO(OID) had more (p≤0.05) articulated mammary branching morphogenesis than CO(CO). OID(CO) displayed marginal increase (p≤0.09) in the mammary gland area, as well as in the mammary ductal elongation, compared to CO(OID). Additionally, the number of apoptotic cells within mammary ducts and lobules is higher in CO(OID) compared to OID(CO). In contrast, the number of proliferating cells is higher in OID(CO) mammary gland compared to CO(OID). Conclusion: Altogether, our findings suggest that daughters of overweight fathers have both systemic and mammary gland confined factors alterations that ultimately lead to higher breast cancer risk in adulthood. However, further data is needed to corroborate this hypothesis. Our ongoing mammary tumor transplantation studies should provide further insight. Citation Format: Camile C. Fontelles, Anni Wärri, Raquel S. Da Cruz, Maria I. Cruz, Ersilia Barin, Sonia De Assis. Ancestral paternal obesity: Systemic versus local effects on offspring mammary tissue development and tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 644.

Paternal malnutrition programs breast cancer risk and tumor metabolism in offspring

BackgroundWhile many studies have shown that maternal factors in pregnancy affect the cancer risk for offspring, few studies have investigated the impact of paternal exposures on their progeny’s risk of this disease. Population studies generally show a U-shaped association between birthweight and breast cancer risk, with both high and low birthweight increasing the risk compared with average birthweight. Here, we investigated whether paternal malnutrition would modulate the birthweight and later breast cancer risk of daughters.MethodsMale mice were fed AIN93G-based diets containing either 17.7% (control) or 8.9% (low-protein (LP)) energy from protein from 3 to 10 weeks of age. Males on either group were mated to females raised on a control diet. Female offspring from control and LP fathers were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to initiate mammary carcinogenesis. Mature sperm from fathers and mammary tissue and tumors from female offspring were used for epigenetic and other molecular analyses.ResultsWe found that paternal malnutrition reduces the birthweight of daughters and leads to epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of their mammary tissue and tumors. Daughters of LP fathers have higher rates of mammary cancer, with tumors arising earlier and growing faster than in controls. The energy sensor, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, is suppressed in both mammary glands and tumors of LP daughters, with consequent activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, LP mammary tumors show altered amino-acid metabolism with increased glutamine utilization. These changes are linked to alterations in noncoding RNAs regulating those pathways in mammary glands and tumors. Importantly, we detect alterations in some of the same microRNAs/target genes found in our animal model in breast tumors of women from populations where low birthweight is prevalent.ConclusionsOur study suggests that ancestral paternal malnutrition plays a role in programming offspring cancer risk and phenotype by likely providing a metabolic advantage to cancer cells.

Experience of Living With Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Background: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is the most common personality disorder in the general population, with prominent features of inflexibility, excessive attention to details, extreme perfectionism, and excessive self-control and interpersonal control. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the experiences of daughters living with OCPD fathers. Methods: Fifteen daughters of fathers with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were selected by purposive sampling method and were subjected to semi-structured in-depth interviews. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Analysis led to emergence of 17 subcategories and three main categories, which included experiences of negative emotions, disorientation, and fear. Conclusions: Children of these patients were found to be under severe mental pressure, requiring serious attention, and interventions as preventive measures.

Associations of Father's Lifetime Cannabis Use Disorder with Child's Initiation of Cannabis Use, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Intercourse by Child Gender

ABSTRACTBackground: Early initiation of alcohol use, cannabis use, and sexual intercourse among adolescents is an important public health concern in the United States. Parents' history of substance use disorder is an important contributing factor for children's problem behaviors. Objectives: The associations of fathers' lifetime cannabis use disorder with children's initiation of cannabis use, alcohol use, and sexual intercourse were examined. In addition, child's gender was considered as a moderator of each association. Methods: Data from two companion longitudinal studies was utilized, the Rochester Youth Developmental Study and its intergenerational extension, the Rochester Intergenerational Study. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of the father's lifetime cannabis use disorder with the child's initiation of cannabis use, alcohol use, and sexual intercourse. To test gender differences in the associations, the study sample was stratified by child's gender. Results: The average age of first cannabis use (b = –3.71, p < .05), alcohol use (b = –3.65, p < .05), and sexual intercourse (b = –2.94, p < .05) among daughters of fathers with a lifetime cannabis use disorder was lower than that of their counterparts after adjusting for all other control variables, whereas no significant differences were detected in a father–son relationship. Conclusions: Homotypic continuity of cannabis use, as well as heterotypic continuity from the father's cannabis use to the child's alcohol use and sexual intercourse existed in a father–daughter relationship. These findings suggest that family-based interventions for female adolescents whose father has suffered from a cannabis use disorder be developed to prevent better adolescents' early substance use and sexual intercourse.

Paternal history of depression or anxiety disorder and infant–father attachment

AbstractPaternal depression and anxiety are important risk factors for a problematic parent–child relationship and subsequent child development. We explored the association between paternal history of depression and anxiety disorder and infant–father attachment security, taking into account the possible mediating roles of sensitivity and perceived family stress. In a sample of 94 infant–father dyads, a structured diagnostic interview and a questionnaire on family stress were administered during pregnancy. Paternal sensitivity was observed using the Ainsworth coding scales, and infant–father attachment was observed in the strange situation procedure during a lab visit at 14 months. Linear regression models were used to examine the association of father's lifetime depression or anxiety with the continuous scales for infant–father attachment security and disorganization. Father's history of depression or anxiety disorder was not significantly related to infant–father attachment security in the total sample. Interestingly, daughters of fathers with a history of depression or anxiety had higher scores on attachment security than daughters of fathers without this diagnosis. Perceived family stress and paternal sensitivity were not significant mediators. We discuss these unexpected findings, suggesting alternative mechanisms for how paternal vulnerability to depression or anxiety may be associated with the infant–father attachment relationship.Highlights We examine the association between paternal history of depression and anxiety disorder and infant‐father attachment security. In 94 infant‐father dyads, a structured diagnostic interview was administered and infant‐father attachment was observed in the Strange Situation Procedure. Daughters of fathers with a psychiatric history had higher scores on attachment security. Mechanisms of paternal vulnerability are discussed.

The father-daughter relationship in the wake of maternal death from breast cancer.

This paper examines whether a relationship exists between paternal psychological stability and daughters' symptomatology following the death of a wife/mother from breast cancer. Specifically, is there a relationship between paternal parenting style and the daughters' subsequent capacity to form committed relationships later in life? We assessed 68 adult daughters (average age = 23.5 years) since the mother's breast cancer diagnosis by means of a semistructured clinical interview and psychological testing. The daughters were subdivided into three psychiatric risk groups. Those in the highest risk group were most likely to be single and to have high CES-Depression and STAI-Anxiety scores. Daughters in the highest risk group were also most likely to have fathers who abused substances, fathers who had experienced a serious psychiatric event, and families with the most closed communication about the mother's cancer. Psychopathology in fathers correlated with increasing anxiety and depression in adult daughters. Daughters at the highest level of risk had the most severe affective states, the most disturbed father-daughter bonding, and the least ability to create successful interpersonal relationships as adults. We suggest specific interventions for these daughters of the lowest-functioning fathers.