Father-child Interactions Research Articles

MAKNA TANDA KOMUNIKASI INTERPERSONAL AYAH DAN ANAK PADA FILM NANNY MCPHEE: SEMIOTIKA ROLAND BARTHES

Recognizing film as a potent medium of expression, the research underscores the profound impact of visual and auditory storytelling in conveying intricate messages through language used. Through the lens of Roland Barthes semiotic theory, this research endeavors to unravel the complexities embedded within familial communication, especially using informal language. Drawing upon theories of mass communication, media studies, and interpersonal dynamics, the qualitative methodology employed in this study entails a meticulous examination of 20 pivotal scenes encapsulating father-child interactions. Viewing Nanny McPhee through a semiotic lens unveils layers of meaning, encompassing denotation, connotation, and myth. Over a span from August 28, 2023, to November 10, 2023, the researcher meticulously observed and analyzed the nuances of familial communication depicted in the film. By capturing and dissecting scenes through Barthes theoretical framework, the study unveils prevalent themes such as misunderstandings, self-centeredness, and the repercussions of ineffective communication within family dynamics. Drawing from the research findings, it can be concluded that within the narrative of Nanny McPhee, a plethora of communication pitfalls emerge, including (1) instances of misunderstanding, (2) a pronounced focus on self-interest, (3) a reluctance to entertain external perspectives, (4) unilateral decision-making devoid of discourse, and (5) an overall deficiency in familial communication. Furthermore, the absence of paternal guidance and attention looms large, wielding considerable influence over the behavioral and developmental trajectories of the children depicted in the film.

Limited sex differences in spatial language in parent-child dyads

BackgroundThere is a complex pattern of sex differences in spatial abilities, yet there is limited knowledge of sex differences in children's exposure to, and children's use of, spatial language. The aim of this study was to directly compare mother-child and father-child interactions to investigate differences by child and parent sex in spatial language. MethodsThe first 3-min of mother-child and father-child DUPLO® play sessions were coded for spatial language when the child was 24 months (N = 187 families; 105:82 boys:girls) and two years later at 48 months (N = 115 families; 66:49 boys:girls). ResultsThere were no sex differences in children's or parents' spatial language use at 24 months or 48 months. Regardless of socioeconomic status or parent talkativeness, parents showed more variety of spatial language (quality) with their daughters than their sons, but a similar quantity of spatial language with their daughters and sons. Associational analyses revealed a concurrent association between parent and child spatial language use at 48 months, but parent spatial language at 24 months did not predict child spatial language 2 years later. No direct sex effects were observed for cross-sectional or longitudinal associational analyses. ConclusionsHigher spatial language quality with daughters could reflect a higher (perceived) need to provide conceptual support to daughters than sons. Beyond this, we found limited evidence of sex effects. Our findings represent an important contribution, demonstrating comparable levels of exposure to spatial language to sons and daughters, and comparable elicitation of spatial language from young boys and girls.

Dynamic self-regulation and coregulation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in mother-child and father-child interactions: Moderating effects of proximal and distal stressors.

This study examined how proximal and distal familial stressors influenced the real-time, dynamic individual and dyadic regulation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in mother-preschooler and father-preschooler interactions in at-risk families (N = 94, Mage = 3.03 years, 47% males, 77% White, 20% Latinx, data collected 2013-2017). Proximal stressors were operationalized as changing task demands (baseline, challenge, recovery) across a dyadic puzzle task. Distal stressors were measured as parent-reported stressful life events. Multilevel models revealed that greater proximal and distal stressors were related to weaker dynamic self-regulation of RSA in mothers, fathers, and children, and more discordant mother-child and father-child coregulation of RSA. Findings affirm that stress is transmitted across levels and persons to compromise real-time regulatory functioning in early, developmentally formative caregiver-child interactions.

The Communication Patterns of Fathers in Developing Children's Science Proficiency in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This article focuses on analyzing fathers' communication patterns in shaping early childhood science skills in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The main problem identified is the changing dynamics of communication between fathers and children, and its potential impact on the development of children's science skills. The purpose of this study is to identify effective father communication patterns in stimulating children's interest and science skills in the AI era. The research method was qualitative case study of five fathers. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and content analysis of father-child interactions in the context of science learning. Then analyzed using the Miles Huberman model and then data validity with data triangulation. The results showed that father's communication focused on open-ended questions, presenting information with a creative approach, and using AI technology as a learning tool can improve children's science skills. Fathers' understanding and support of technological development is also a key factor in building children's science literacy in the AI era. The findings contribute to practical understanding for parents, educators and policy makers to shape a communication environment that supports the development of children's science skills. The practical implications can be applied in designing family education programs and science learning strategies for early childhood that are appropriate to the development of AI technology.

The Impact of Maternal Parenting Anxiety on Young Children’s Emotional Intelligence: The Mediating Effect of Father-Child Interaction

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of maternal parenting anxiety on young children’s emotional intelligence, as well as the mediating effect of father-child interaction on their relationship. To achieve this, we examined how maternal parenting anxiety is perceived in father-child interaction and elucidated the pathway leading to young children’s emotional intelligence.Methods: The study participants included 372 pairs of mothers and fathers of five-year-old children enrolled in 50 daycare centers located in Seoul and metropolitan areas, and 81 daycare teachers. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 23.0. The PROCESS macro version 3.4 was used to verify the mediating effect.Results: Firstly, maternal parenting anxiety did not directly affect the children’s emotional intelligence. Second, father-child interaction mediated the relationship between maternal parenting anxiety and children’s emotional intelligence. Based on these results, it was found that low levels of maternal parenting anxiety can induce high levels of children’s emotional intelligence through father-child interaction.Conclusion: Based on these results, it is necessary develop a plan to promote healthy functioning of the mother-father variables influencing young children’s emotional intelligence. In particular, father-child interaction was found to significantly affect children’s emotional intelligence. This indicates that it is possible to alleviate maternal parenting anxiety and enhance positive father-child interaction by improving healthy parenting values and skills and establishing common child-rearing goals.

Construct validity of the Coding Interactive Behaviour instrument for fathers of infants

ABSTRACT Observational instruments are proposed as the best method to assess the quality of parent–child interaction. However, the psychometric properties and theoretical foundations of these observational tools have been questioned. Further, very few studies have focussed on the construct validity of these instruments for father–child interaction quality. In this study, we examined the construct validity of the Coding Interactive Behavior (CIB) measure in a sample of 320 father-infant dyads. A four-factor model, previously found to fit mother–infant interactions, failed to demonstrate an acceptable model fit for our father-infant sample. Instead, a data-driven three-factor model was indicated to be a better fit. This model consists of the composites, ‘Paternal Sensitivity’, ‘Paternal Positive Affect’, and ‘Child Engagement’. Interestingly, while these factors bear similarities to those found in maternal interactions, they manifest distinct characteristics for fathers. Our results emphasize the necessity of refining and validating observational tools specifically for diverse parent–child contexts.

Latent profiles of dyadic parent–child interaction and associations with triadic family interaction in early childhood

AbstractObjectiveThis longitudinal study examined latent profiles of parent–child interaction and their associations with triadic family interaction.BackgroundA child's development is significantly influenced by early family relationships. Family systems theory emphasizes the interrelations between family subsystems, such as parent–child and parent–parent relationships, as well as the family as a whole. However, few studies have examined the relationship between each parent–child dyad and triadic family interaction.MethodFathers and mothers were separately videotaped interacting with their child (n = 120) at 4 and 18 months and assessed using the Parent–Child Early Relational Assessment. Triadic family interaction was evaluated at 18 months using the Family Alliance Assessment Scale within a Lausanne Trilogue Play setting.ResultsFour latent profiles of parent–child interaction were identified. Dyadic interaction that was characterized by reciprocity, positive affect, and low negativity was associated with higher family coordination. However, interaction characterized by a lack of reciprocity, negativity, and dyadic tension was related to less coordinated triadic family interaction.ConclusionsWell‐functioning parent–child interaction contributes to higher‐quality triadic family interaction. In contrast, challenges in early father–child interaction, including emotional distance, a lack of positive paternal involvement, and limited mutual engagement, are linked to lower‐quality triadic family interaction.ImplicationsThis study highlights the importance of supporting early parent–child relationships to promote well‐functioning and coordinated triadic family interaction, and the inclusion of fathers in interventions aiming to improve family dynamics.

Peripartum Depressive Symptoms in Fathers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: This research investigates peripartum depression in fathers during COVID-19, focusing on how pandemic-related distress is associated with paternal depressive symptoms and the quality of father-child feeding interactions. The primary objective was to understand if the pandemic has influenced depressive symptoms in new fathers and how these symptoms impact their interactions with their children, especially during feeding. Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the research employs online surveys and remote observation to gather data from 243 Italian fathers. The analysis involves established psychometric tools like the Symptoms Check-List/90R and the Peritraumatic Distress Index to assess the severity of depressive symptoms and their correlation with father-child interaction exchanges, observed through the SVIA. Results: The fathers' peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19 was significantly and positively associated with the level of their depressive symptoms and negatively correlated with the quality of their feeding interactions with their children. Moreover, elevated levels of peritraumatic stress were notably predictive of higher instances of depressive symptoms in the fathers. Further, higher levels of stress associated with COVID-19 were predictive of a poorer quality of father-child interactions. Conclusions: This research highlights the need for inclusive perinatal support programs, offering foundational insights into paternal mental health during pandemics.

Parental Responsivity and Child Communication During Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions in Fragile X Syndrome.

Past research shows that parentally responsive behavior toward the child positively influences language development in both neurotypical children and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those with fragile X syndrome (FXS); however, most studies have focused exclusively on the mother-child relationship. The current study examined relationships between parent behavior (i.e., responsivity and behavior management) and child language performance in both mother-child and father-child interactions, as well as relationships between child characteristics and both parent behavior and child language. Participants were 23 families of young boys with FXS between 3 and 7 years of age. Mothers and fathers independently completed questionnaires assessing child characteristics and separately engaged in 12-min play-based interactions with their child via telehealth. One parent also completed a comprehensive interview assessing child adaptive behavior. Video recordings of the parent-child interactions were transcribed and coded for parent and child behavior, and measures of parent and child language were obtained from the transcripts. Mothers and fathers used similar rates of responsive behaviors during parent-child interactions, and parental responsivity was positively associated with some aspects of child language performance (i.e., talkativeness and lexical diversity). Parental behavior, however, was not associated with syntactic complexity. Older children and children with higher levels of adaptive behavior had parents who used higher rates of responsive behaviors. Fathers used higher rates of behavior management strategies compared to mothers, and this type of parent behavior was not associated with child language. Overall, this study provides evidence that interventions focused on increasing parental responsiveness would be beneficial for families of children with FXS and that these interventions should be delivered early given the association between responsivity and child age. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25229939.

Experiences of fatherhood in prison: A thematic analysis of differences between fathers in a family approach programme and a comparison group

Various programmes have been implemented in prisons to strengthen parental involvement and parent–child relationships during imprisonment. In-depth insights into such programmes are limited. This qualitative study compared the experiences of two groups of imprisoned fathers in the Netherlands: fathers who participated in a family approach programme ( N = 10) and fathers in a comparison group ( N = 29). Based on a thematic analysis, four key differences were identified between the family approach group and the comparison group. Fathers in the family approach group: (1) described more positive engagement activities in direct father–child interactions, (2) reflected more positively on their fathering role during imprisonment, (3) structurally included participation in the family approach programme in their narratives of how imprisonment affected father–child relationship quality, and (4) more often expressed feelings of uncertainty and caution when discussing family life after imprisonment. The findings of this study are informative for the mechanisms behind prison-based parenting and family relationship programmes and illustrate the potential of these programmes to alleviate the unintended negative impact of imprisonment on parental involvement and family relationships. Based on these findings, recommendations for further research and practice are provided.

“Something Had to Give”: A qualitative study of fathering in the early months of a global pandemic

Sensitized by ecological theory, this qualitative study explored how COVID-19 shaped fathering processes in the United States for fathers of young children. Scholars emphasize the need to understand how sociocultural and economic uncertainty impacts parenting processes. The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to examine how the environmental press of a global crisis impacts the proximal processes of fathering, which serve as important engines of development. Guided by grounded theory methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 45 fathers of children aged four and younger who lived in the U.S. Data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Contextual features of COVID-19 were a form of environmental press that enabled and constrained proximal processes of father-child interactions, interdependence among coparents, and intrapersonal adjustments with stress. Although the pandemic yielded many challenges, fathers’ narratives embodied ideals of engaged fathering that centered on men’s active presence in their children’s lives and reflected processual changes in his context that transformed fathering. Policies, programs, and practitioners can enable fathering proximal processes to accommodate familial needs in caregiving roles of young children, specifically in times of crisis and transition.

A longitudinal study of families created using egg donation: Family functioning at age 5.

Findings are reported from Phase 2 of a longitudinal study of family functioning in heterosexual-couple families with 5 year olds conceived using identity-release egg donation. Seventy-two egg donation families were compared to 50 in vitro fertilization (IVF) families (ethnicity: 93% White British) using standardized observational, interview, and questionnaire measures. There were no differences between family types in the quality of mother-child or father-child interaction, apart from lower structuring by fathers in egg donation families. Egg donation mothers and fathers reported higher levels of parenting stress and lower levels of confidence and competence than their IVF counterparts. Egg donation mothers reported lower social support and couple relationship quality, greater anger toward their child, and perceived their child as more angry and less happy, compared to IVF mothers. Egg donation fathers showed greater criticism and anger toward their child, less joy in parenting, and were less satisfied with the support they received, than IVF fathers. Children in egg donation families showed higher levels of externalizing problems than IVF children as rated by mothers, fathers, and teachers, whereas they were rated as having higher levels of internalizing problems by teachers only. Externalizing problems were predicted by mothers' lower initial social support, steeper increases in parenting stress and greater concurrent criticism, whereas internalizing problems were associated with poorer initial couple relationship quality as rated by mothers. Both were predicted by fewer gains in reflective functioning. There was a moderation effect such that parenting stress was a stronger predictor of externalizing problems for egg donation than IVF families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Fathers' unmodulated prosody in child-directed speech.

Mothers and fathers modify prosodic characteristics of child-directed speech relative to adult-directed speech. Evidence suggests that mothers and fathers may differ in how they use child-directed speech as communicative partners. Thus, fathers create communicative challenges during father-child interaction that facilitate the child's adaptation to a wider potential range of interlocutors. In this paper, speech production differences are examined between mothers and fathers in child-directed speech to toddlers as compared to adult-directed speech. Using a longitudinal, large-scale design of audio recordings in naturalistic environments and automatic speech processing techniques, it was found that mothers, but not fathers, increased their fundamental frequency when addressing their toddlers. The results suggest that fathers do not modulate the prosody of their speech in the same way as mothers when communicating with their toddlers. Findings have implications for emotional and communicative practices of fathers compared to mothers and the differential role each plays in child development.

Parental drinking and observations of parent-child problem-solving discussions: Do drinking motives matter?

Alcohol is often used for emotion-regulation purposes, yet there has been little research on how emotion-regulation drinking motives relate to parenting. The present study addresses this gap by investigating possible interactions between parent drinking and drinking motives in the prediction of parenting and child affectivity during a problem-solving interaction. Participants included 199 two-parent families with a child between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Mothers and fathers self-reported their drinking and drinking motivations, and each parent separately took part in a 5-min parent-child problem-solving discussion about a topic that the parent identified as a frequent source of conflict. These discussions were later coded for parent rejection and coercion and child positive and negative affectivity. Father enhancement motives were independently related to father harsh parenting and indirectly related to lower child positive affect and greater child negative affect. Mother drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions interacted with mother drinking in association with mother harsh parenting, father harsh parenting, and child positive and negative affect during father-child interactions. Although the pattern of these interactions differed, the combination of mother greater drinking and coping or enhancement motives tended to have higher harsh parenting, child positive affect, and child negative affect. These findings indicate that parents' emotion-regulation motives for drinking warrant greater attention from researchers to understand the impact of parent drinking on parenting and emotional development of children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Conflict and negotiation with preschoolers during family meals.

Family meals provide opportunities to observe a variety of social exchanges. This study examined the occurrence of conflict and negotiation during the understudied context of family meals, examining both mother-child and father-child interactions with children aged 3-5 (n = 65). We investigated differences in parents' sensitivity and children's affect based on the occurrence of conflict and negotiation. Results indicated conflict was common with both parents, but particularly with mothers. Negotiation occurred less often: half of the time with mothers and a third of the time with fathers. Mothers were less sensitive and children more negative when mother-child conflict occurred; mothers were more sensitive when father-child conflict occurred. Fathers were more responsive when father-child conflict occurred, but more intrusive when both mother-child and father-child conflict occurred. Mother-child negotiation was associated with responsive mothers; mothers were less negative when mother-child negotiation occurred in the absence of father-child negotiation. Findings provide a deeper understanding of family interactions between young children and parents during family meals. These interactional processes may be an essential ingredient to better understand how family meals affect young children's health and well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Hyperscanning Studies on Interbrain Synchrony and Child Development: A Narrative Review.

Social interactions between parents and children are closely linked with children's development, and interbrain synchrony has been shown to be a neural marker of social interaction. However, to truly capture the essence of social interactions through interbrain synchrony, it is necessary to simultaneously discuss the parental and child brains and adequately record neurological signals during parent-child interactions in interactive tasks. In the current review, we have reviewed three main contents. First, we discuss the correlation between parent-child interbrain synchrony and the development of cognitive (e.g., emotion regulation, attention, and learning) and behavioral abilities (e.g., cooperation, problem-solving) in children. Second, we examine the different neural mechanisms of interbrain synchrony in mother-child and father-child interactions, aiming to highlight the separate roles of mother and father in child development. Last, we have integrated four methods to enhance interbrain synchrony, including communication patterns, nonverbal behavior, music, and multichannel stimulation. A significant correlation exists between parent-child interbrain synchrony and the development of children's cognitive and behavioral abilities. This summary may be useful for expanding researchers' and practitioners' understanding of the ways in which parenting and the parent-child relationship shape children' cognitive and behavioral abilities.

Relation between young children's anger and fathers' mental health during the COVID‐19 epidemic: Moderating role of gender and child number

AbstractThe father–child interaction deserves attention during the COVID‐19 epidemic. This study administrated the Child Anger Questionnaire and the SCL‐90 Symptom Checklist to collect primary data from 1862 fathers of Chinese young children during the COVID‐19 outbreak, examined the relation between young children's anger and their fathers' mental health, and verified whether the relation was moderated by the gender or the child number. The results demonstrated that the detection rate of anger among Chinese young children was 60.08%, the scores of SCL‐90 factors of their fathers were significantly lower than the Chinese normal adult male norms and those of infant parents, and the anger of young children had a significant effect on their fathers' mental health. Gender and child number moderated this relation. It is of great significance to strengthen the attention to the anger of young children and the mental health of fathers during the period of public health emergencies, and to promote the harmonious interpersonal relationship between young children and their fathers.

Developmental antecedents of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in middle childhood: The role of father-child interactions and children’s emotional underregulation

The present study examined the influence of fathers' parenting quality during infancy on children's emotion regulation during toddlerhood and, subsequently, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in middle childhood. Fathers and their 8-month-old infants (N = 124) were followed over time to obtain home observations of parenting quality at 8 and 24 months, laboratory observations of children's emotion regulation at 24 months, and teacher reports of children's ADHD symptoms at 7 years. A path analysis revealed that fathers' emotional disengagement in infancy and minimizing responses to children's distress in toddlerhood forecast children's development of ADHD symptoms in middle childhood. Further, a significant indirect effect was found such that fathers' parenting at 8 and 24 months predicted subsequent development of ADHD symptoms at age 7 through toddlers' difficulty regulating emotion. Implications of this study for early intervention and directions for future research are discussed.

Self-reported reflective functioning and father-child interactions in a sample of fathers who have used intimate partner violence.

Reflective functioning (RF) has been found to be associated with mother-child interactions, but less is known about the association of fathers' self and child-focused RF and father-child relationships. Fathers who have histories of intimate partner violence (IPV) are known to have poor RF, which may impact their father-child interactions. The current study was designed to examine how types of RF are associated with father-child relationships. Pretreatment assessments and recorded, coded father-child play interactions were used to examine associations among fathers' history of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), RF and coded father-child play interactions in a sample of 47 fathers with a history of IPV use in the last 6 months with their coparent. Fathers' ACES and their child's mental states (CM) were associated with father-child dyadic play interactions. Fathers with greater ACES and higher scores on CM had the most dyadic tension and constriction during play interactions. Those with high ACES but low CM had scores similar to those with low ACES and low CM. These results indicate that fathers who have used IPV and have a history of significant adversity may benefit from interventions to increase their child-focused RF and further improve their interactions with their children.

Influence of parental play on Taiwanese 3-year-olds' executive function: Through the path of motor skills.

Parenting is known to impact children's executive function (EF) skills. However, nearly all the evidence comes from analyses of mother-child interaction. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care Database in Taiwan, the relations between both mother-child and father-child interaction and 3-year-olds' EF were investigated in 2,164 families. The results showed that mothers interacted with their children differently from fathers in terms of time distribution. Mothers were more equally involved in all aspects of parental involvement, whereas fathers spent more time in play. In addition, both mother-child and father-child play contributed to children's EF; however, the mediating effect of child motor skills was more prominent for father-child play. This study not only suggests a potential distinct and complementary role of fathers in young children's EF development but also indicates a unique mediating effect of motor skills in the path from parent-child play to child EF. Implications for parent education are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).