Father-child Relationship Research Articles

Parent-child bonding and attachment during pregnancy and early childhood following congenital heart disease diagnosis

ABSTRACT Diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) can present challenges to the developing parent-child relationship due to periods of infant hospitalization and intensive medical care, parent-infant separations, child neurodevelopmental delay and feeding problems, and significant parent and child distress and trauma. Yet, the ways in which CHD may affect the parent-child relationship are not well-understood. We systematically reviewed the evidence on parental bonding, parent-child interaction, and child attachment following CHD diagnosis, according to a pre-registered protocol (CRD42019135687). Six electronic databases were searched for English-language studies comparing a cardiac sample (i.e., expectant parents or parents and their child aged 0–5 years with CHD) with a healthy comparison group on relational outcomes. Of 22 unique studies, most used parent-report measures (73%) and yielded mixed results for parental bonding and parent-child interaction quality. Observational results also varied, although most studies (4 of 6) found difficulties in parent-child interaction on one or more affective or behavioural domains (e.g., lower maternal sensitivity, lower infant responsiveness). Research on parental-fetal bonding, father-child relationships, and child attachment behaviour was lacking. Stronger evidence is needed to determine the nature, prevalence, and predictors of relational disruptions following CHD diagnosis, and to inform targeted screening, prevention, and early intervention programs for at-risk dyads.

Quality of father-child relationships as a predictor of sleep developments during preschool years.

Substantial developmental changes in sleep occur during the preschool period, but few studies have investigated the factors that forecast these developments. The aim of this study was to examine whether three aspects of father-child relationships in toddlerhood predicted individual differences in developmental patterns of change in five actigraphy-derived sleep variables during the preschool period (N=67; sleep assessed yearly between 2 and 4 years). In a predominantly White and middle-to-higher income sample, paternal mind-mindedness and quality of father-child interactions were assessed during father-child free play at 18 months and fathers self-reported on their involvement in childrearing at age 2. Multilevel growth modeling revealed that children whose father made more mind-related comments during father-child interactions had a higher proportion of sleep taking place during nighttime as well as shorter daytime and total sleep duration at 2 years. This was, however, followed by a relative leveling off (i.e., less rapid change) of these sleep features between 2 and 4 years. Given previous studies documenting that nighttime sleep proportion increases while daytime and total sleep duration decrease during preschool years, the findings suggest that children who are exposed to more paternal mind-mindedness may reach more mature sleep patterns earlier in development.

Caring perceptions and experiences of fathers of children with congenital heart disease: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

To identify fathers' perceptions and experiences of caring for their children with congenital heart disease. A qualitative systematic review. PubMed, Clinical Key, the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-based practice database, CINAHL Complete, Embase and PsycINFO were searched for all journal articles published before May 2020. After applying the selection criteria, five studies were identified reporting on fathers with children between 1month and 12 years. The quality of the articles was evaluated. Six main themes regarding fathers' perceptions and experiences of caring for their children with congenital heart disease were identified: (1) lack of disease knowledge, (2) responsibility to the family and emotional suppression, (3) gratitude for the sustained life of their children, (4) acceptance of being different from others, (5) regrouping and planning for the future and (6) the struggles of father-child relationships. In caring for their children with congenital heart disease, fathers are akin to a suffering warrior, full of hardship. With a self-imposed sense of responsibility and suppressed emotions, fathers may feel lonely and hurt, but they must fight for their families and children.

Longitudinal prediction of children's math anxiety from parent-child relationships

Math anxiety is highly prevalent and thus has received considerable attention. However, only a few cross-sectional studies have examined the influence of parent–child relationships on math anxiety. We conducted a longitudinal study to test the effect of father–child and mother–child relationships on the math anxiety of children. Our sample comprised 287 elementary students who reported their father–child relationship, mother–child relationship, and math anxiety at two time points 1 year apart. Family cohesion was used as the indicator of the parent–child relationship. Cross-lagged models indicated that the father–child relationship, rather than the mother–child relationship, predicted the math anxiety of children, even after controlling for the gender of children, age of children, learning anxiety of children, social anxiety of children, learning motivation of children, math performance of children and math anxiety of parents. This study highlights the importance of the father–child relationship in the math anxiety of children.

Trajectories of Dysregulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT Objective: This study determined whether child and family environment factors are associated with differences in developmental trajectories of emotional and behavioral dysregulation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: Participants included 186 families of a child with ASD (5–12 years old at baseline; 86% male; 83% non-Hispanic Caucasian; 35% comorbid intellectual disability). At each of the four time points (each spaced 12 months apart), mothers and fathers within each family completed well-validated measures on their own mental health, their child’s dysregulation, their parent–child relationship, and their parent couple relationship. Longitudinal multi-level modeling was used to describe trajectories of dysregulation across 3 years and test whether parent depression, closeness in the parent–child relationship, and positive parent dyadic coping were associated with differences in child trajectories. Results: On average, child dysregulation decreased across time. Closer mother-child and father–child relationship quality was associated with lower baseline dysregulation. More severe child restricted and repetitive behaviors, fewer maternal depression symptoms, and more positive parent dyadic coping were associated with declines in child dysregulation over time. Conclusions: On average, children with ASD become less dysregulated across time. However, there is important variability in dysregulation trajectories of children with ASD. Children with ASD who have a high (versus low) severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors appear to be at risk for greater dysregulation. The family environment, and specifically a closer parent–child relationship, better maternal mental health, and more positive couple coping, may contribute to a pattern of improved child regulation across time in ASD.

Convergent and Discriminant Validity of Retrospective Assessments of the Quality of Childhood Parenting: Prospective Evidence From Infancy to Age 26 Years

Retrospective self-report assessments of adults’ childhood experiences with their parents are widely employed in psychological science, but such assessments are rarely validated against actual parenting experiences measured during childhood. Here, we leveraged prospectively acquired data characterizing mother–child and father–child relationship quality using observations, parent reports, and child reports covering infancy through adolescence. At age 26 years, approximately 800 participants completed a retrospective measure of maternal and paternal emotional availability during childhood. Retrospective reports of childhood emotional availability demonstrated weak convergence with composites reflecting prospectively acquired observations (R2s = .01–.05) and parent reports (R2s = .02–.05) of parenting quality. Retrospective parental availability was more strongly associated with prospective assessments of child-reported parenting quality (R2s = .24–.25). However, potential sources of bias (i.e., depressive symptoms and family closeness and cohesiveness at age 26 years) accounted for more variance in retrospective reports (39%–40%) than did prospective measures (26%), suggesting caution when using retrospective reports of childhood caregiving quality as a proxy for prospective data.

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well-being?

IntroductionIn accordance with the “resilience paradigm”, this study was aimed at exploring the role of the parent-child relationship in supporting internationally adopted adolescents’ ability to develop a strong adoptive identity and a feeling of satisfaction with their own life. MethodsParticipants were 105 Italian adopted adolescents (13–17 years) asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. ResultsResults showed that adolescents generally feel fairly comfortable discussing adoption-related issues (especially with their mothers), have a medium-high level of adoptive identity, and appear to be quite satisfied with their life. Moreover, while adoptive identity mediates the association between openness in communication regarding adoption and adoptees’ well-being with mothers, father-child communication openness has a direct influence on well-being. ConclusionsFindings highlighted that the quality of mother-child and father-child relationship plays a crucial role in guiding the process of adoptees’ identity formation and influencing their well-being. Recommendations for professionals working with adoptive families were discussed.

Prevalence of Depression in Children with Specific Learning Disorder: The Role of Child-Parent and Child-Teacher Relationship

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression in children with a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) and the role of the child-parent and child-teacher relationship in predicting its symptoms. Methods: The research design was a correlation. From the total number of children with SLD, 596 students were selected by census method in Brujerd, Nahavand, and Malayer cities. The level 2—Depression—Parent/Guardian of Child version, child-parent (parent version), and child-teacher (teacher version) relationship scales were used to collect the data. Pearson correlation and simultaneous multivariate regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that severe, moderate, and mild depression rates in children with SLD were 15.10%, 25.17%, and 9.90%, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the closeness of child-parent (mother and father) and the teacher-child relationship with depression. There was a significant positive correlation between conflict and dependence on child-parent (parent) and teacher-child relationship with depression. All dimensions of the child-parent and child-teacher relationship except the closeness child-father relationship had a significant role in predicting depression in children with SLD. Based on the results, child-parent and child-teacher interactions reduce depressive symptoms in children with SLD. Conclusion: Based on the results, child-parent and child-teacher interaction training are suggested to reduce the symptoms of depression in children with SLD.

Father and God (the Father) in Wiesel’s Night as Response to the Holocaust

The proposed paper will begin by looking at the father–son relationship in Elie Wiesel’s Night. I will then briefly note the father–child relationship between God and Israel in the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. I will link the two challenges evident in Wiesel’s Night and in his continuing thought after the Shoah—the loss of family and the loss of God, his faith and/or his understanding of God—and note how these affect one another. After further assessing Wiesel’s father imagery in Night, I will note how Wiesel’s story, eventually making its way into the current version of Night, played a critical role in affecting the thought of Christian leaders and post-Holocaust Jewish–Christian reconciliation efforts.

The Experience of Being Fathered of Mexican-origin Male Youth

Fathers are important influences for the healthy development during the transition to adulthood of their children. Despite the theoretical acknowledgement of the reciprocal nature of the father–child relationship, we currently know very little about the experience of being fathered, particularly of immigrant male youth. Drawing on qualitative data from a study of Mexican-origin male youth in Chicago, this article documents the respondents’ experiences of their fathers as providers, role models and authority figures. The analysis reveals however, that the respondents experienced these rather traditional father roles in different ways, ranging from extreme violence and neglect to dedication and sacrifice, which in turn, led to rejection, modification, or emulation in their own conceptions of fatherhood. The findings urge researchers to examine the long-term effects of being fathered among immigrant youth and more specifically, how the experience of being fathered leads to different or similar patterns of fathering behavior later in life.

Helicopter Parenting Versus Autonomy Supportive Parenting? A Latent Class Analysis of Parenting Among Emerging Adults and Their Psychological and Relational Well-Being

We aim to identify typologies of parenting among emerging adults and describe how parenting typologies are related to their life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and parent-child relationship. Using a three-step latent class approach, we analyzed 472 mother-child and 426 father-child relations. We recruited the students from a private university in Upstate New York. We confirmed four parenting classes among emerging adult mothers and fathers: helicopter parenting, autonomy supportive parenting, uninvolved parenting, and parenting that combined characteristics of helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive parenting. We found that emerging adults whose parents were in the autonomy supportive parenting class reported higher scores on life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and their relationship with their parents than those in the helicopter parenting and uninvolved parenting classes. In addition, we found that emerging adults in the combined parenting class reported higher scores for life satisfaction and their relationship with their parents than those in the autonomy supportive parenting class.

Retracted: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Distress, and Fathering Behaviors

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), internalized and externalized psychological distress, and six measures of parenting behavior among fathers in the United States.BackgroundPrior research on ACEs and parenting has focused almost exclusively on mothers, specific types of childhood adversity, and the intergenerational transmission of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic experiences. This study extends the literature by considering ACEs in fathers, using a multidimensional measure of ACEs, and multiple measures of positive and negative fathering behavior.MethodUsing the ecological model of father involvement, this study is based on a national sample of more than 2,000 fathers with children between 2 and 18 years old in the United States. Seemingly unrelated regression models were used to analyze the relationship between ACEs and each fathering behavior, with two measures of psychological distress included as mediators of this relationship.ResultsACEs are significantly associated with both internalized and externalized psychological distress. Experiencing multiple ACEs was negatively associated with paternal warmth, engagement, caregiving, and father–child relationship quality. Multiple ACEs were also positively associated with the use of harsh discipline. High ACE scores were mediated by internalized distress for five fathering behaviors and by externalized distress for warmth and harsh discipline.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of ACEs and psychological distress for fathering. These results have implications for future research and public health approaches to childhood trauma.

Meaning and social participation of man when become a father for the first time.

To analyze the meanings attributed to fatherhood by first-time fathers. Qualitative research of Hermeneutic-Dialectic design. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews with fathers and mothers (10 of each) of children older than 12 months. The analysis of the data was carried out through the participants' discourse analysis and their articu lation with the historical-social context and the theoretical references of the research. The meaning and social participation of men when they became a first-time father were grouped in five categories: meaning of the fatherhood experience; meaning of fatherhood from a gender perspective; meaning of the experience in the father-child relationship; meaning of the parenting experience in the couple relationship; and exercising fatherhood and its relationship with the health system. Con clusions: It is necessary to implement strategies to include the father in the upbringing and care of the children, favoring his participation, and thus, the growth and comprehensive development of the child conceived in the different types of families.

Does peer alienation accelerate cyber deviant behaviors of adolescents? The mediating role of core self-evaluation and the moderating role of parent-child relationship and gender

The current study intended to better understand how peer alienation might influence adolescents’ cyber flaming, cyber pornography and cyber deception, and examine their mechanisms: The mediating role of core self-evaluation and the moderating role of father-child relationship, mother-child relationship and gender. This model was examined with 644 Chinese high school students by e-questionnaires (mean age = 16.85 years, SD = 1.23). The results showed that: (1) Peer alienation was positively correlated with cyber flaming, cyber pornography and cyber deception; core self-evaluation, father-child relationship and mother-child relationship were negatively correlated with peer alienation, cyber flaming, cyber pornography and cyber deception; (2) Peer alienation had significant positive predictive effects on cyber flaming, cyber pornography and cyber deception, and core self-evaluation played significant mediating roles in these relationships; (3) The mediating paths “peer alienation → core self-evaluation → cyber flaming/cyber pornography/cyber deception” were significantly moderated by mother-child relationship, and the mediation effects were more significant among adolescents with lower quality of mother-child relationship. (4) The direct paths “peer alienation → cyber flaming/cyber pornography/cyber deception” were significantly moderated by gender, and the predictive effects were only significant among boys than girls. The current study is conductive to clarify the risk and protective factors for cyber deviant behaviors of adolescents, and mental health professionals should develop safe social interaction programs for adolescents at risk of cyber deviant behaviors.

Preschool Children's Social Information Processing Mediates the Link between the Quality of the Parent-Child Relationship and the Child's Learning Difficulties.

(1) Background: This study aims to explore children’s social information processing (SIP) as an explanatory mechanism in the link between parent–child relationship and children’s learning difficulties in kindergarten; (2) Methods: The sample included 115 kindergarteners (62 girls; 53 boys; Mage = 68.5 months, SD = 6.04), their parents and the school teacher. Parents reported on relationship quality with the child and teachers reported on children’s learning difficulties and school achievements. Children’s SIP was assessed with the social information processing interview—preschool version (3) Results: Mother and father relationship quality with the child associated with children’s SIP; however, only the father’s but not the mother’s quality of relationship with the child was associated with children’s learning difficulties and school achievements. Children’s SIP mediated this latter link; (4) Conclusions: Parents’ relationship quality with the child and children’s SIP are pertinent factors in children’s learning in the early years. The father–child relationship seems to be a strong determinant of a child’s approach to learning and achievement and may have long lasting effects on children’s mental health.

Longitudinal Effects of PostDivorce Interparental Conflict on Children’s Mental Health Problems Through Fear of Abandonment: Does Parenting Quality Play a Buffering Role?

In a sample of 559 children (ages 9-18), researchers investigated whether: (a) fear of abandonment mediated the association between postdivorce interparental conflict (IPC) and mental health problems, and (b) parent-child relationship quality moderated the association between IPC and fear of abandonment. Mediation analyses indicated that pretest IPC predicted fear of abandonment 3months later, which then predicted child- and teacher-reported mental health problems 10months later. The hypothesized protective effect of a high-quality parent-child relationship was not observed. IPC predicted fear of abandonment for all children, except for those with low- and moderate-quality father-child relationships, for whom IPC was not significantly related to fear of abandonment. Findings highlight the need to optimize child coping programs and improve parenting-after-divorce programs to reduce IPC.

Longitudinal Associations Between Mother–Child and Father–Child Closeness and Conflict From Middle Childhood to Adolescence

ObjectiveThe present study aimed at examining the longitudinal associations between closeness and conflict in mother–child and father–child relationships from middle childhood to adolescence.MethodUsing six‐wave longitudinal data of mother–child and father–child relationships from Grades 1 to 9 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development study (N = 1,105 families; 79% European White, 21% ethnic minorities), the present study used multivariate longitudinal modeling to address the research goal.ResultsFor mother–child relationships, higher levels of conflict at Grade 1 were significantly associated with slower increases in conflict and greater declines in closeness over time, while controlling for the effects of demographic variables. Moreover, findings suggest coordination of change across mothers and fathers, such that sharper decreases in closeness (or increases in conflict) between mothers and children were associated with sharper decreases in closeness (or increases in conflict) between fathers and children.ConclusionThe present study contributes to the literature by elucidating the complexities of the dynamic changes in parent–child relationships and highlighting the importance of including both mothers and fathers in the same model.ImplicationsOur findings have important implications for family practitioners and education and intervention programs aimed at supporting families in coping with the challenges in tuning parent–child relationships during adolescence.

Exploring Diginity, Social Constrains, Greatness and Child-Father Relationship in Kazuo Ishiguro’s the Remains of the Day

Exploring Diginity, Social Constrains, Greatness and Child-Father Relationship in Kazuo Ishiguro’s the Remains of the Day

Parental divorce, interparental conflict, and parent-child relationships in Spanish young adults

El principal objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las asociaciones entre el divorcio parental y el conflicto interparental con la calidad de las relaciones paterno-filiales y materno-filiales, en una muestra española de 1078 adultos jóvenes. También se analizó la función moderadora del género de estos adultos jóvenes. Nuestros resultados sugirieron que el conflicto interparental se asocia con relaciones paterno-filiales y materno-filiales de menor calidad, mientras que el divorcio parental se asocia de forma más negativa con la calidad de la relación con el padre que con la madre. Además, el género de los hijos adultos únicamente moderó la asociación entre el divorcio parental y la calidad de las relaciones paterno-filiales, de manera que las mujeres de familias divorciadas obtienen puntuaciones más bajas en la calidad de la relación paterno-filial que las mujeres de familias no divorciadas. Los resultados aportan mayor información a la literatura empírica existente y promueven una mejor comprensión de las asociaciones complejas existentes entre el divorcio y conflicto parental con la calidad de las relaciones parento-filiales, en un contexto cultural donde hay escasa investigación sobre el tema. The main aim of this study was to analyze the associations between parental divorce and interparental conflict with father-child and mother-child relationship quality, in a Spanish young adult sample. The moderating effect of adult child´s gender was also analyzed. Using a sample of 1,078 Spanish young adults, our results suggested that interparental conflict was more strongly associated with lower mother-child and father-child relationship quality, and that parental divorce was more strongly associated with father-child relationship quality than with mother-child relationship quality. In addition, adult child´s gender only moderated the effect of parental divorce on father-child relationship quality, such that women from divorced families score lower on father-child relationship quality than women from non-divorced families. Findings add to the existing literature and promote a better comprehension of the complex associations between parental divorce and conflict with parent-child relationship quality in an understudied cultural context.

Father Prepared, Committed, and Involved in His Child’s Birth: The Experience of Early Father-Child Skin to Skin Contact at Birth

Although the figure of the father has progressively gained a place in birth, it is still displaced and in the mere role of a companion. Objective: To understand the experience of fathers who have prepared to get actively involved in birth and to undergo the experience of early physical contact with their newborns. Method: A qualitative Action-Research (AR) design was carried out, which considered the antenatal educational intervention of 12 fathers together with their pregnant partners. After delivery, individual interviews were conducted in depth to collect the paternal experience at birth. Results: The central emerging theme developed during AR was “Paternal role and early bonding with the child”, whereas the experience was comprehended in two central themes related to the meaning of the father-child encounter-contact: “The impact of the face-to-face encounter with the child”; “The first physical contact with the child, a key moment”. Conclusion: The fathers who were prepared and involved from pregnancy and at birth attribute a special meaning to the father-child relationship which generated since the first encounter, allowing them to feel, enjoy and commit to care.