Mother-father Relationship Research Articles

Paternal Incarceration, Family Relationships, and Adolescents’ Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviors

Little is known about the conditions under which paternal incarceration is harmful to children and the mechanisms that explain this. This study addressed the family relationship context in the associations between paternal incarceration and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a moderated mediation model was specified where paternal incarceration predicted adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors through family relationship quality, and where the mediating role of family relationship quality was moderated by pre-incarceration family relationship characteristics. Using latent profile analyses, three pre-incarceration family clusters were identified (“Cohesive”; “Fragmented”; “Disharmonious”). Analyses indicated that the association between paternal incarceration and family relationship quality differed across pre-incarceration family clusters and that decreased father-mother relationship quality mediated the negative association between paternal incarceration and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors among “Cohesive” and “Fragmented”, but not among “Disharmonious” family clusters. The findings suggest that adolescents with more harmonious pre-incarceration family relationships are most vulnerable to the negative consequences of paternal incarceration. The study demonstrates the need to consider the family relationship context to understand the intergenerational consequences of incarceration.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Mother-Father Relationship and Perceived Stress Among Black Pregnant Women.

Black women in the United States report moderate to high levels of perceived stress during pregnancy. Though lower levels of involvement and support from father of the baby (FOB) and higher levels of conflict have been associated with higher levels of maternal perceived stress, it is not clear how Black pregnant women experience the mother-father relationship and its influence on perceived stress. To examine and describe the mother-father relationship and its role in experiences of perceived stress from the perspective of Black pregnant women. Using a convergent, mixed methods approach with ideal-type analysis, we conducted a secondary analysis of data among 60 Black pregnant women enrolled in the Biosocial Impact on Black Births study. Women completed online self-report questionnaires and participated in a semi-structured interview by telephone. Participants who reported more conflict with FOB also reported higher levels of perceived stress (ρ(47)=.431, P=.002). Themes (importance, communication, support, conflict, satisfaction, and stress) emerged from the data. Five distinct mother-father relationship typologies were identified following an ideal-type analysis of the combined dataset: Cared For; Managing Expectations; Just Friends, For the Kids; It's Complicated; and Can't be Bothered. These findings are an innovative exemplar of ideal-type analysis and provide a deeper understanding of the nuance and dynamics within the mother-father relationship and how it influences perceived stress among Black pregnant women. Clinicians must recognize the significance of the mother-father relationship and, when appropriate, encourage paternal involvement or intervene if there is conflict during pregnancy.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Mother-Father Relationship andPerceived Stress among Black Pregnant Women.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Mother-Father Relationship andPerceived Stress among Black Pregnant Women.

Fathers Matter: Black Fathers' Relationships with their Partners during Pregnancy and Postpartum.

To describe the characteristics of participants in the Fathers Matter study for a better understanding of fathers of the baby who engage in pregnancy research involving primarily Black couples and their relationships with their partners. The Fathers Matter Study uses a prospective design, identifying father-mother dyads during pregnancy and following them until birth as part of the Biosocial Impacts on Black Births Study. Participants completed prenatal and postpartum questionnaires. Our analyses are based on 111 fathers. Nearly all ( n = 101, 91.1%) of fathers identified as Black and 51.4% ( n = 57) had a high school diploma, graduate equivalency diploma, or higher. About half ( n = 57, 51.4%) reported annual incomes of $10,000 or less. Most reported that relationships with the mother were very close both before ( n = 100, 89.9%) and during ( n = 85, 76.6%) pregnancy. However, substantial variability was found in relationship satisfaction, involvement in the pregnancy, financial support provided, and scales of conflict and support. We found homogeneity in sociodemographic and basic relationship measures. Complex measures of the father-mother relationships demonstrated considerable variability. Data from fathers may identify their contributions to successful birth outcomes. Understanding relationships between fathers and mothers could identify risk or protective characteristics to be addressed at the family or community levels.

The effects of mother-father relationships on children’s social-emotional competence: The chain mediating model of parental emotional expression and parent-child attachment

Mother-father relationships, as one of the key elements of the marriage subsystem, play an essential function in the improvement of social-emotional competence. The study used social learning theory as an analytic framework to consider the potential mechanisms by which mother-father relationships influence social-emotional competence. Therefore, 802 children and their parents from 54 classes in 27 preschools in China were selected to research the chain-mediating function of parental emotional expression and parent–child attachment in mother-father relationships affecting social-emotional competence. The results indicated that (1) Mother-father relationships significantly and positively predicted social-emotional competence. (2) Parental emotional expression and parent–child attachment separately fully mediated the relationship between mother-father relationships and social-emotional competence. (3) Parental emotional expression and parent–child attachment were chain mediators between mother-father relationships and social-emotional competence. This study highlights the important contribution of mother-father relationships in the improvement of social-emotional competence. Hence, parents are supposed to realize the significance of mother-father relationships in the cultivation of social-emotional competence. Meanwhile, parents should express emotions rationally in the family. They should give their children effective support and companionship to form a high-quality parent–child attachment, which ultimately affects the improvement of social-emotional competence.

Mother-Father Relationship and Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant Black Women.

Black women report higher levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy than white women. A supportive relationship with the father of the baby may be protective and decrease depressive symptoms. We sought to examine the association between mother-father relationship and depressive symptoms among pregnant black women. Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted a secondary data analysis from a subsample of 405 pregnant black women who participated in the Biosocial Impact on Black Births study, a prospective cohort study. Participants completed questionnaires at 19- to 29-week gestation, including 6 measures of their relationship with the father of the baby: (1) contact, (2) involvement, (3) overall relationship, (4) change in relationship from prior to pregnancy to during pregnancy, (5) support, and (6) conflict. Latent class analysis was used to identify and classify the relationship construct. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale was used, with scores ≥23 considered high levels of depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed with logistic regression. Following adjustment for maternal sociodemographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and health behaviors, women in a conflictual relationship had higher odds of having depressive symptom scores ≥23 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.50, 95% confidence interval: 2.00, 6.12) than those having no relationship (adjusted odds ratio: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.43, 5.52), when compared with those with a good relationship. These findings suggest that having either a conflictual or no relationship with the father of the baby during pregnancy increases the odds for higher maternal depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 23) among pregnant black women.

Factors Related to Father Involvement in Early Chillhood Care

This study aimed to prove what factors influence fathers' involvement in early childhood care. The design of this research was cross-sectional. The population was fathers having the child aged from one month to six years in Bukittinggi. The samples comprised 92 respondents selected through purposive sampling. The independent variables were age at first becoming a father, father's occupation, mother's occupation, father-mother relationship, number of children, father's willingness to be involved, place of residence, and caregiver assistance, while the dependent variable was father's involvement. Data collection used a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using Spearman's Rho with < 0.05. The results showed that the number of children (OR = 11,449, 95%CI = 3,596-36,444) influenced the father's involvement in early childhood care with a probability value of 46.7%. The age of first fatherhood, father's occupation, mother's occupation, number of children, place of residence, and help of caregivers determine the father's involvement in raising the children. The novelty of this research is that health workers need to develop education for families in early childhood care. It is recommended to increase the father's involvement in childcare by increasing the first age of becoming a father to the age of more than 27 years, increasing the willingness of fathers to be involved in childcare, and choosing a place to live separately from parents or in-laws.

Mother-father relationships and child social-emotional adjustment: Mediation through maternal and paternal parenting

Mother-father relationships are one of the most important contexts for children's social-emotional development during early childhood. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (family N = 1,438; child ages of 3, 5, and 9), we examined whether mother-father relationships influence child social-emotional adjustment through the mediating role of parenting. Maternal and paternal coparenting behaviors and maternal parenting stress mediated the association between mother-father relationships and child social-emotional adjustment. Dyadic data from mothers and fathers also revealed similarities and differences in how parents’ own and partner's perceptions of their marital relationships were associated with parenting between mothers and fathers. Findings underscore the importance of considering children's social-emotional adjustment from a family systems perspective.

The socio-economic rank of parents and students’ academic and cognitive outcomes: Examining the physical, psychological and social mediators

This study examined how the socioeconomic rank of parents correlates with students’ academic and cognitive outcomes of science students in senior secondary school. Its objective was to examine the bedrock of physical and psychosocial mediators that influence students’ learning and cognitive attitude. The sample comprised 548 science students drawn from 11 secondary schools in Calabar Municipality of Cross River State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample from a population of 938 students. A cross-sectional observational type of survey design was used in this study. A self-reporting questionnaire labeled Socioeconomic Rank and Students Outcome Questionnaire (SERSOQ) was used for the study after validation and reliability. The results for reliability coefficients for SERSOQ range from 0.66 to 0.89 for Cronbach’s alpha and 0.72–0.81 for Kuder Richardson’s formula-20. Section “A” of SERSOQ was administered to the students in their schools by the research assistants, and students took section “B” home to their parents. Analysis of data collected was done using regression analysis, percentage, and mean. Results showed a great correlation between family income and academic achievement, cognitive attitude, and study habits. The study did not find a significant relationship between assignments with the variables under investigation. Importantly, the findings of this study found that parental control exhibited the greatest mediating function in providing family income impact on students’ cognitive attitude. Other mediators like students’ and peers’ educational ambitions and mother-child verbal relationships were discovered as potent mediators. Findings also showed a slight impact of family income on parent-child and mother-father relationships. Parental control consists of an influential setting that is outside the school environment yet mounting a very powerful effect on determining school outcomes in teenagers. In conclusion, a positive social environment is necessary for enhancing science students’ cognitive ability, academic achievement, and study habits as money is not everything. Some of the recommendations made were that there should be an educative environment at home. Educators should encourage parents to provide the necessary means of academic success, such as a source of light, stationery, books, separate study rooms, and homework facilities in their respective homes.

Mental Health Challenges, Parenting Stress, and Features of the Couple Relationship in Parents of Children With Fragile X Syndrome

BackgroundIndividuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) have significant delays in cognition and language, as well as anxiety, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, and challenging behaviors such as hyperactivity and aggression. Biological mothers of children with FXS, who are themselves FMR1 premutation or full mutation carriers, are at elevated risk for mental health challenges in addition to experiencing stress associated with parenting a child with significant disabilities. However, little is known about fathers in these families, including the ways in which parental well-being influences the mother-father relationship and the impact of child characteristics on paternal and couple functioning.MethodThe current study examined features of, and relationships between, parental well-being, couple well-being, and child functioning in 23 families of young boys with FXS. Mothers and fathers independently completed multiple questionnaires about their individual well-being, couple functioning, and child behavior. One parent per family also completed an interview about the child’s adaptive skills.ResultsResults suggest that both mothers and fathers in these families experience clinically significant levels of mental health challenges and elevated rates of parenting stress relative to the general population. Findings also indicate that the couples’ relationship may be a source of strength that potentially buffers against some of the daily stressors faced by these families. Additionally, parents who reported less parenting stress had higher couples satisfaction and dyadic coping. Finally, parents of children with less severe challenging behaviors exhibited fewer mental health challenges, less parenting stress, and higher levels of both couples satisfaction and dyadic coping. Parents of children with higher levels of adaptive behavior also reported less parenting stress and higher couples satisfaction.ConclusionOverall, this study provides evidence that families of children with FXS need access to services that not only target improvements in the child’s functioning, but also ameliorate parental stress. Family-based services that include both mothers and fathers would lead to better outcomes for all family members.

A Qualitative Exploration of Fathers’ Antenatal and Postnatal Challenges

This study explores and identifies the different challenges for both antenatal and postnatal fathers that might act as precursors for poor paternal perinatal emotional well-being. Twelve fathers living in Sydney, aged over 18 years, identified as either an antenatal or postnatal father were interviewed concerning their experiences. Interview data were thematically analysed to identify challenges faced by expectant and new fathers. Five main challenges were identified – father–mother relationship, father–child relationship, life changes, lack of support and birth event. The results of this study indicate possible differences between antenatal and postnatal challenges, with postnatal fathers being confronted by additional challenges. These findings provide valuable insight for health professionals to better target treatment interventions by considering the actual precursors for poor emotional well-being in fathers.

Repackaging Fatherhood: Father Engagement and Cooperative Coparenting in Mid‐Pregnancy Marriages and Cohabitations

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined how the timing and structure of parents' relationships are related to father engagement and cooperative coparenting in the United States.BackgroundResponses to nonmarital pregnancies have shifted; mid‐pregnancy (“shotgun”) marriages have declined while mid‐pregnancy cohabitations have significantly increased. These less institutionalized family forms may create ambiguity about fathers' roles as parents and partners.MethodDrawing on data from the Fragile Families and Child Well‐Being Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study (n = 2,752), we estimated conditional associations between a five‐category measure of parents' relationship structure and timing at the focal child's birth—(a) mid‐pregnancy cohabitation, (b) mid‐pregnancy marriage, (c) pre‐pregnancy cohabitation, (d) pre‐pregnancy marriage, and (e) nonresident couples—with measures of father engagement and cooperative coparenting when the child was 1 year old. Supplemental analyses evaluated these outcomes at Ages 3 and 5.ResultsAt Age 1, fathers in mid‐pregnancy cohabitations reported less cooperative coparenting with the child's mother compared to fathers in pre‐pregnancy cohabitations. In contrast, fathers in mid‐pregnancy marriages were more engaged with their children than fathers in pre‐pregnancy marriages.ConclusionFathers were particularly engaged with young children following mid‐pregnancy relationship transitions but were less cooperative coparents with the child's mother. This study joins research suggesting that fathers with low socioeconomic status may be embracing a new “package deal” in which the father–child relationship is central, and the father–mother relationship is secondary.

Don't be a Deadbeat Dad: Non-Custodial Fathers, Stereotypes, and Family

The objective of this paper is to explore how gender stereotypes influence social structures which creates barriers for non-custodial fathers (NCF) and to identify possible solutions to challenge societal prejudice. The findings suggested that gender stereotypes shape NCF’s perception of fatherhood, the mother’s opinion of NCFs, the proceedings during a custody battle, and the type of social services provided to NCFs. These act as barriers that negatively affect NCF-child relationships, which are further diminished by non-cooperative mother-father relationships. Surprisingly, stepfamilies were found to improve NCF-child relationships. Remote fathering was found to be detrimental to children’s development that can result in poor socioemotional adjustment, increased externalized problems, diminished abilities to form strong bonds with friends, and feeling lonely. It was also found that absent fathers increased the risk of their children developing behavioural problems, engaging in criminal behaviour, and experience poverty. Based on qualitative data, possible solutions outreach programs created through community collaboration, that promote education, empathy and respect. For more problematic NCF visitation, perhaps a version of the Israeli visitation center could be used. In sum, these conceptual solutions can challenge gender stereotypes and social prejudice which benefits NCFs and family as a social institution.

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

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

Stress and feelings in mothers and fathers in NICU: identifying risk factors for early interventions.

The aims of this study were to explore parents' stress levels and negative feelings after premature births and to identify the risk factors related to parents' stress and negative feelings during their children's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Preterm birth is a multi-problematic event that may put the babies in danger for both their medical and neurophysiological conditions and could have a negative impact on both the mother-father relationship and the parent-child interactions. The study involved 43 mothers and 38 fathers of preterm infants. All participants filled out the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Profile of Mood States. The results revealed significant differences between mothers' and fathers' responses to preterm births in terms of both stress and negative feelings. We found that, for mothers, their own young age and the baby's need for respiratory support were significant predictors of stress; for fathers, their own young age and the baby's lower gestational age and worse condition at birth were significant predictors of stress and negative feelings. The NICU may be a stressful place both for mothers and fathers. Identifying which mothers and fathers are at risk immediately after their children are born could help to direct specific interventions that can reduce these parents' stress and prevent them from negative feelings.

Positive parental engagement: Investigating the role of the mother-father relationship.

Promoting positive parental engagement (e.g., reading to the child, practicing nursery rhymes with the child, playing with the child) is beneficial for children. Previous research has largely been limited to only maternal reports and relatively affluent families. The current study longitudinally investigated spillover between positive experiences in the mother-father relationship and positive parental engagement using an ethnically and economically diverse sample of parents. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,780 mother-father dyads)-and guided by family systems theory-we tested a series of path analysis models. Positive relationship experiences predicted positive parental engagement over time (from child's birth-5 years of age) for both mothers and fathers. Furthermore, strength of associations between positive relationship experiences and positive parental engagement largely did not differ based on family structure, poverty, or race. These findings highlight the importance of investigating the mother-father relationship using a family systems framework to better understand positive parental engagement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Interpersonal Relationships Among Black Couples and Depressive Symptoms During Pregnancy.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations of the mother-father relationship and social support with depressive symptoms during pregnancy among Black mothers and fathers. Fifty Black mother-father dyads from the Midwest completed a packet of questionnaires that included conflict with partner, social support, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. Twenty-four percent of mothers and 16% of fathers had Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scores ≥23, which have been correlated with a major depression diagnosis. There were no differences in depressive symptoms between mothers and fathers. Fathers reporting high depressive symptoms were not more likely to be partnered with mothers reporting high depressive symptoms. Controlling for age, higher levels of conflict with partner, and lower levels of social support predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms for both mothers and fathers. Black expectant mothers and fathers may be at risk for clinical depression. Fathers experienced comparable levels of depressive symptoms with mothers, indicating the need to consider fathers' psychological adjustment during pregnancy. Higher levels of conflict with partner and lower levels of social support predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms for both parents. Maternal-child nurses should assess for mothers' as well as fathers' experiences of depressive symptoms and the mother-father relationship when providing prenatal care.

Psychosocial Factors and Preterm Birth Among Black Mothers and Fathers.

Black women are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods and experience racial discrimination and psychological stress compared with White women. These factors have been related to preterm birth (PTB). However, research is limited on the associations of disadvantaged neighborhoods, racial discrimination, and psychological stress among expectant Black fathers and PTB. This review focuses on what is known about psychosocial factors in relation to PTB among Black parents. The Scopus database was used to search for studies using keywords of adverse childhood experiences, neighborhood environment, racial discrimination, psychological stress, depressive symptoms/depression, coping, locus of control, social support, and mother-father relationship. Each of these keywords was combined with the term preterm birth. This review focused on the associations of these psychosocial factors collected during the prenatal period and risk for PTB. However, due to lack of data for some of these factors during the prenatal period, studies conducted in the immediate period after birth were included. The focus of this review was on research conducted with Black expectant fathers given the limited data on the association between paternal psychosocial factors and PTB. This review only highlights studies that examined the associations of maternal psychosocial factors and PTB. It does not present a comprehensive review of studies on maternal factors given the extent of the studies that examined these associations. Pregnant Black women are more likely to report living in disadvantaged neighborhoods; experiencing racial discrimination, psychological stress, and depressive symptoms; using avoidance coping; and reporting lower levels of social support compared with White women. Limited data suggest that Black expectant fathers experience higher rates of everyday unfair treatment because of race/ethnicity compared with White fathers. Research suggests that these psychosocial factors have been related to PTB among pregnant Black women; however, research is limited on examining these associations among expectant Black fathers. Maternal-child nurses are in the position to assess these psychosocial factors among expectant parents. Nurses should also assess risk factors for PTB for both expectant parents and provide support to couples who are at risk for PTB.

A Review of the Effects of Mother-Father Relationship on Academic Performance of Students

For child proper emotional maturity, mother and father’s love and affection are essential requirements for child’s emotional stability; children have certain emotional needs that have to be catered for if they have to gain emotional stability. It can be noted that children brought up in a home devoid of love and care most times grow up with unwanted characters in the society. This paper reviews the research literature on the effects of family relationship on student academic performance with special reference to MFR (Mother-Father Relationship). The study is a developmental study that takes into account the social trends and economic conditions in predictions to the future status of a family as a block. The results first present how MFR variable correlate with academic performance of students before tackling the general constructs described in the literature. At the end of this review, the finding results have been discussed in light of the different effects of mother-father relationship on child academic performance.

Supplemental Material for Positive Parental Engagement: Investigating the Role of the Mother–Father Relationship

Supplemental Material for Positive Parental Engagement: Investigating the Role of the Mother–Father Relationship