Role Of Father Research Articles

The joy of reading – Emirati fathers’ insights into shared reading with young children in a multilingual context

ABSTRACT This paper reports findings from a research and development project to support fathers’ involvement with their children’s literacy development. Eighty Emirati fathers attended workshops about sharing reading with their young children, where they were provided with a variety of children’s picture books in both Arabic and English, and reported their experiences of sharing reading in their homes with their young children. In the context of a rapidly evolving United Arab Emirates, the role of fathers is changing within this multilingual society to encompass enhanced engagement with their young children. Emirati fathers reported their experiences via WhatsApp voice-notes and text messages, which offered a naturalistic and culturally appropriate way for them to share their everyday shared reading activities. The overarching takeaway from these responses indicates a sense of their joy at engaging with their children in such volitional shared reading experiences. This leads to a feeling of wellbeing for themselves and their children, as well as a way of being more engaged in child-rearing in this nation which is moving towards more shared spousal responsibilities and more of an emphasis on the importance of connecting with their young children, for not only their children’s benefit but also their own.

Utilization of paternity and parental leave in Italy: the parents’ perspective

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been a focus on the role of fathers in childcare within public debates and social policies. Maternity, paternity, and parental leaves are essential tools for active father involvement in family life. The study aims to describe the fathers and mothers’ perspective about the use of two types of leave (paternity and parental) by fathers. Methods As part of the European project 4E (Early, Equal, Engaged, Empathetic) PARENT (CERV-2022-DAPHNE No. 101095956), a cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire addressed to parents between August and December 2023. Results A total of 3,811 mothers and 720 fathers participated. Sixty percent of mothers and 57% of fathers came from the North, with the majority having a high level of education (74% and 58%, respectively). Seventy-three percent of fathers reported using paternity leave, with most cases from the public welfare system (59%). Overall, most of mothers (91%) and fathers (89%) do not consider the current duration of leave adequate nor do they agree with the traditional division of family roles. Additionally, 69% of mothers and 72% of fathers believe that fathers should have more leave, but also that mothers need more months for breastfeeding. The logistic model shows that for fathers: low education level (ORadj 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.86), living in the Center (ORadj 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.87) and Southern Italy (ORadj 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.64), and acceptance of traditional family role division (ORadj 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.65) reduce the likelihood of using paternity leave. Similar results were observed in case of mothers’ responses. Furthermore, living in Southern Italy reduces the likelihood of using parental leave for both fathers (ORadj 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.69) and mothers (ORadj 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.92). Key messages • Maternity, paternity, and parental leaves are crucial for facilitating active father participation in family life. • It is important to implement inclusive policies that ensure equitable access to paternity and parental leave, thereby promoting active father involvement in childcare.

Who dominates? Multiple constructions of women's subjective social status and their cohort dynamics in transitional China

The way women construct their subjective social status has garnered significant attention. However, the roles of husbands and fathers in this process have been underexplored, with even less focus on how these roles have evolved across generations. This study aims to answer two important questions against the backdrop: First, which is the most dominant factor in shaping married women's subjective social status, their own objective class or those of their husband or father? Answers to this question reveal the impacts of assortative mating and intergenerational mobility. Second, how does the construction pattern change across birth cohorts? Cohort dynamics help reflect the evolution of gender roles and family values in China. Using pooled data from the Chinese General Social Survey in 2010–2017 and the diagonal reference model, our study finds that Chinese married women previously tended to construct their own social status based on the objective class of their husbands. However, this trend is reversed for younger cohorts. Father's objective class status carries roughly the same weight as women's own, but its impact becomes moderately stronger in younger cohorts. Taken together, the above findings reveal a unique pathway of family modernization in transitional China. Married women, although increasingly independent of their spouses, still remain closely connected with their natal families.

The Influence of Loneliness and Absence of Father's Role on Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents

Purpose: Negative behavior is a picture of individual development experiencing problems, adolescents who develop will certainly show positive behavior. In fact, today many teenagers show negative behavior, one of which is aggressive behavior. This study aims to determine the effect of loneliness and the absence of father's role on aggressive behavior. Method: This type of research is quantitative research, researchers use an aggressive behavior scale, a loneliness scale, and a father's role absence scale. The sampling technique used Non-probability sampling with accindental sampling technique. The samples in this study were male and female adolescents throughout Indonesia, aged 10-24 years, unmarried, had complete parents, divorced parents, and the father died. The data analysis technique in this study used product moment for hypothesis analysis. Result: The first hypothesis of Loneliness with Aggressive Behavior in adolescents obtained a product moment correlation value of 0.734 (p <0.01). Second hypothesis, the relationship between the Absence of Father's Role with Aggressive Behavior in adolescents obtained a product moment correlation value of 0.729 (p <0.01). The effective contribution of the Absence of Father's Role with aggressive behavior in adolescents is 53.2%. The results of multiple linear regression analysis data to prove the third hypothesis, have an influence between Loneliness and Absence of Father's Role together with Aggressive Behavior obtained F of 162.637 (p <0.05), the effective contribution of Loneliness and Absence of Father's Role with Aggressive Behavior is 62.3% while 37.7% is determined by other variables not measured in this study. Conclusion: This study proves that there is a positive and significant influence between loneliness and aggressive behavior, stating that the first hypothesis is accepted, the higher the loneliness obtained by adolescents, the higher the aggressive behavior, and vice versa. The existence of a positive and significant influence between loneliness and the absence of father's role with aggressive behavior simultaneously, states the third hypothesis is accepted.

The Role of Fathers' Involvement in Parenting and Adolescent Social Harms: A Narrative Review

Background: In today's society, the issue of fatherhood and involvement in the upbringing of children has been emphasized. The study aimed to investigate the impact of fathers' involvement in parenting on the social victimization of adolescents. Methods: The present research utilized a narrative review methodology, with technical terms being explained at the beginning. Relevant sources were identified by conducting searches on reputable academic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Ovid, Elsevier, SID, and Magiran, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. The search keywords encompassed various related themes, such as fatherhood, absent fathers, childrearing, adolescents, father involvement, engagement, social problems, and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). Compilation procedures were conducted according to the SANRA checklist. In the initial search, 162 articles were obtained. After removing duplicates and evaluating their titles and abstracts, 9 articles were selected for the review. Results: Based on the findings of this literature review, paternal involvement in child-rearing is shown to positively affect the intellectual, moral, and social development of adolescents. Conversely, the absence of a father figure has been linked to negative outcomes such as drug addiction, decreased academic performance in both school and university, anti-social attitudes, separation anxiety, aggression, feelings of insecurity, and negative thoughts in teenagers. Conclusion: The involvement of fathers in upbringing of their children fosters critical thinking and reinforces children's empowerment in making pivotal decisions, while simultaneously acting as a safeguard against social risks.

Fathers' rejection sensitivity: Links with fathers' and children's social information processing

AbstractObjectiveJoining efforts to reveal how fathers affect their children's social competence, we examined whether fathers' rejection sensitivity was associated with biases in their children's social information processing. We also explored whether this link was indirect via biases in fathers' social information processing of their children's peer interactions and, in particular, fathers' behavioral responses.BackgroundChildren's social information processing biases predict their social competence and well‐being. Studies have explored how mothers' rejection sensitivity may impact children's social information processing. Yet, little is known about the role of fathers in this context.MethodParticipants were 85 fathers living in Israel (68.24% Jewish; 31.76% Arab) and their kindergarten children (55.29% female; MChild age in months = 68.70, SD = 5.59). Fathers completed the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire and reported their attributions, emotions, and likely behaviors in ambiguous hypothetical scenarios that might suggest a rejection of their child by peers using the Peer Rejection Scenarios measure. Children were interviewed using the Social Information Processing Interview–Preschool Version, tapping hypothetical peer interactions.ResultsFathers' rejection sensitivity was indirectly related to children's generation of maladaptive responses to ambiguous peer interactions through fathers' reports of their more negative emotions and overinvolved behavioral responses.ConclusionResults underscore the role of fathers' rejection sensitivity and emotional and behavioral responses in children's social information processing.ImplicationsThe study points to the need to consider paternal rejection sensitivity in research and interventions focused on promoting children's social competence.

Participation of fathers and siblings in home rehabilitation programmes for children with neuro-developmental delay: a scoping review

BackgroundThe role of, and impact on, mothers caring for children with neuro-developmental delay (NDD) is well documented. However, the role of fathers and siblings in families of children with NDD remains significantly understudied, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There has been an increased call for holistic rehabilitation of children with NDD at the family level. This study aimed to explore the involvement of fathers and siblings in the home rehabilitation programmes of children with NDD.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Peters et al.'s methodology and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Articles were retrieved from PUBMED, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, PEDro, and Google Scholar. Reference lists of relevant studies were also manually searched.ResultsThirty research articles were identified. Father and sibling participation in home-based rehabilitation and caregiving is low in LMICs compared to high-income countries due to economic factors and cultural beliefs. Reduced participation stresses mothers and reduces developmental outcomes in children with NDD.ConclusionsThis review highlights the need for rehabilitation professionals to encourage father and sibling participation in caregiving for children with NDD in home rehabilitation programmes.

Exploring the Father's Role in Determining Neonatal Birth Weight: A Narrative Review.

Birth weight, which exhibits variability across different populations, is influenced by a mix of genetic, environmental, and dietary factors originating from both the mother and father. Maternal characteristics, including age, socioeconomic status, prior pregnancies, weight, height, and weight increase throughout pregnancy, have a substantial influence on fetal growth and the health of the infant. On the other hand, the influence of paternal characteristics on the weight of newborns is still not fully comprehended in a consistent manner. Birth weight is an important factor that can help predict various maternal complications, such as the probability of having a C-section, experiencing postpartum hemorrhage or infections. It can also indicate future health challenges like asthma, cognitive impairment, and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Nineteen publications were found through a thorough search of the Medline, PubMed, and Scopus databases, which provide insights into how paternal variables contribute to variations in birth weight. Significantly, the age of the father was found to be associated with higher chances of preterm birth and having a smaller size for gestational age in premature infants, while full-term children were more likely to have a larger size for gestational age. In addition, there is a constant correlation between the height of the father and the birth weight of the child. Taller dads are more likely to have babies with a higher birth weight and a lower likelihood of being small for gestational age (SGA). Although there were some discrepancies in the data about the weight and BMI of fathers, it was found that the height of fathers played a significant role in determining the size of the fetus and the weight of the newborn. While there may be differences in the conducted studies, these findings provide valuable insights into the complex connection between parental characteristics and fetal development. This data can be utilized to enhance clinical treatment strategies and enhance our comprehension of outcomes for neonates. Further homogeneous investigations are required to conclusively validate and build upon these findings.

Secure base and mental health in children: a narrative review.

Childhood is a crucial period for the formation of an individual's attachment type. Previous studies focused more on how to directly intervene in children's mental health problems such as depression, and less on how to improve children's mental health from the perspective of attachment relationship. Secure base, as one of the core concepts of attachment theory, plays an important role in the whole process of children's psychological development. In this article, we review the concept of the secure base, describe current clinical practice and suggest future directions. A literature search was performed within electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI. Chinese and English articles focusing on the secure base and attachment relationship among children were retrieved. Their publication dates were set from the inception of the database to August 6, 2024. While the secure base significantly impacts early childhood, a safe base may also be established through group and teacher-student relationships to activate individual secure attachment schemas. Most prior studies concentrated on the mother-child bond, with limited exploration of the father's role in the family dynamic. Furthermore, children's secure attachment development is not only influenced by parents' secure base script knowledge (SBSK) but also by intergenerational transmission. The underlying structure of secure base scripting knowledge plays a distinct role in middle childhood mental health. The mechanism by which family structure, the functional division of family roles, and the potential structure of safe-base script knowledge influence children's secure attachment development at various stages warrants further elucidation, including investigating cross-gender and cross-cultural stability. To facilitate the development of children's secure attachment pathways, it is essential to consider different attachment styles within parents and diverse family structures (including those in lesbian, gay, bisexual). From a clinical psychotherapy perspective, this review offered novel insights and practical guidance on how the secure base mechanism impacts children's mental health, with the overarching goal of mitigating the risk of mental health problems.

Feelings, thoughts and experiences of fathers in the early postpartum period: a phenomenological study.

Transition to parenthood is a complex and challenging situation not only for mothers but also for fathers. In this process, fathers' feelings, thoughts and experiences are very important. This study aims to understand fathers' feelings, thoughts and experiences in the early postpartum period. The descriptive phenomenological design was used in this study. Data were collected from 13 fathers through in-depth interviews. The content analysis method was used in data analysis. The following three themes were identified regarding the experiences of fathers in the early postpartum period: 'need for support', 'difficulties of being a father' and 'recommendations'. The fathers had more needs and inadequate support in their transition to the fatherhood role. All these results suggest that they faced many challenges in the early postpartum period. Sleep deprivation, being tired, having a restricted social life and increased responsibilities, and experiencing postpartum psychological fluctuations were some of these difficulties. In order to overcome these difficulties, they needed financial and moral support. The fathers who participated in the present study stated that they did not receive enough training and support from healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should keep in mind that not only of mothers and babies but also of fathers have needs to be met.

Национально-культурные особенности формирования семьи (на примере Республики Татарстан)

The article considers the classification of Tatar families according to various criteria: composition, number of generations, number of children and other characteristics. The author analyzes the features of each category of families and provides their descriptive characteristics, which allow for a better understanding of the structure of the Tatar family, the national and cultural features of its formation, as well as modern trends in the development of family relations. Particular attention is paid to traditional ideas about the family among the Tatar people. The author also studies the empirical data of a population survey conducted in 2022 by the Center for Family and Demography of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. The study allows us to draw objective conclusions about the emerging trends in reproductive and family behavior of the population of the republic, channels for transmitting national and cultural characteristics of society, the role of mother and father in matters of national and cultural continuity. At the same time, it seems possible to determine the role of key social agents in the formation and development of the family, its national and cultural formation. The study provides predictive estimates of the features of the further development of the processes of cultural and national identification of society. The article may be useful for sociologists, ethnographers and anyone interested in the culture and traditions of the Tatar people.

Phenomenological Study of Fatherlessness in the Lives of Daughters

In a family, both the mother and father’s roles are equally important. A father's role goes beyond being the breadwinner or the head of the family; he is also expected to play a complete role in supporting a child's development and sharing responsibilities with the mother as a wife. When a father doesn't fulfill his role effectively, the issue of "fatherless" arises in the family, which has long-term impacts on the child, including a daughter's perception of her future life partner. Previous research has shown that the absence of a father's role at home (fatherlessness) can influence how a child interacts and shapes a child's preferences in choosing a partner or determining their romantic relationships. This study, employing phenomenology and in-depth interviews with four female informants who have experienced fatherlessness, draws on family communication, attachment theory, penetration theory, and gender role theory. The research findings highlight that the experience of fatherlessness becomes a major communication barrier, affecting the informants in initiating romantic relationships. Respondents express difficulties in trusting and maintaining open communication with close friends. They state that disappointment in their father figure leads them to seek a partner to fulfill their psychological needs related to the missing fatherly figure. The study also confirms factors influencing the perceptions of fatherless daughters in choosing life partners, including a father's involvement in child-rearing, healthy communication between father and child, traumatic experiences, and current parent-child communication relationships. This research can serve as a reference for further studies interested in examining family communication from the perspective of the father's role and the communication between daughters and their fathers.

The role of fathers’ and mothers’ acceptance in adaptive emotion regulation in Chinese preadolescents: Distinguishing between- and within-person effects

The relationship between parental styles and the regulation of emotions in adolescents has been extensively explored in previous research conducted in Western countries. However, the absence of research conducted within the cultural context of China, combined with imprecise methodologies, impedes the empirical validation of this association. This study aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between parental acceptance and preadolescent emotion regulation in the Chinese cultural context, utilizing a cross-lagged panel model with random intercepts. The sample comprised 1987 middle school students, with 56.10 % being male and a mean age of 12.32 years, from Guangdong and Shandong provinces. Participants provided feedback on assessments of parental acceptance and emotion regulation at three time points: the first and final semesters of seventh grade and the initial semester of eighth grade. The findings revealed a significant association between the random intercepts of paternal and maternal acceptance and adaptive emotion regulation in preadolescents at the between-person level. However, no statistically significant within-person cross-lagged effect was observed from parental acceptance to preadolescent adaptive emotion regulation. Similarly, changes in preadolescent emotion regulation did not significantly predict changes in parental acceptance. These findings challenge the tripartite model and suggest that the association between parental acceptance and preadolescent adaptive emotion regulation is predominantly influenced by trait-related factors.

Prenatal influences across the life course: Biobehavioral mechanisms of development.

Despite the well-established importance of prenatal experiences for offspring health throughout the lifespan, our understanding of prenatal influences on psychological outcomes faces challenges due to a wide-ranging and somewhat fragmented literature. Here, we introduce the special issue of Developmental Psychology, "Prenatal Influences Across the Life Course: Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Development," which draws together a broad collection of 12 empirical studies and one review article. These studies illustrate the diversity in biobehavioral mechanisms and biopsychosocial processes that help explain the long-term impacts of prenatal experiences on human development. Collectively, these studies help to disentangle sources of influence across different life stages (e.g., prenatal from genetic, preconception, and/or postnatal influences) and fill key gaps in the literature, such as the inclusion of minoritized populations currently underrepresented in research, the role of fathers, and protective mechanisms. The research featured in this special issue underscores both the long reach of prenatal influences on child and adolescent development as well as the challenges in observing specific biological mediators given that prenatal risks are currently operationalized as specific or broad cumulative measures. In an effort to organize this complex literature, we propose a guiding framework for how to conceptualize the continued integration of the prenatal environment into the field of developmental psychology. This framework broadens the prevailing dichotomous view of prenatal mechanisms as cumulative or specific to articulate a dimensional approach focused on adaptation. We anticipate that such an approach may uncover meaningful and observable biobehavioral mechanisms of prenatal influence on offspring development in the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prospective Associations of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Emotion Dysregulation with Children's Internalizing Problems: The Moderating Role of Fathers.

Parents, including fathers, contribute to the early development of internalizing symptoms, which is observable and prevalent among young children. This longitudinal study examined the moderating role of paternal depressive symptoms/emotion dysregulation in the prospective associations between maternal depressive symptoms/emotion dysregulation and children's internalizing problems (depressive and anxiety symptoms). Ninety-four preschoolers and their mothers and fathers participated. Parents completed online questionnaires when their children were four years old and one year later. Results indicated that higher paternal depressive symptoms were associated with an increase, while lower paternal symptoms were associated with a decrease, in the negative impact of maternal emotion dysregulation on children's later depressive, but not anxiety, symptoms. We also tested the moderating role of paternal emotion dysregulation, these pathways were not significant. The findings enhance our understanding of the interaction between maternal and paternal psychological characteristics in contributing to children's anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Communication Patterns in the Formation of Self-Concept in Early Adults Who Experience Fatherless in Medan City

This research aims to analyze communication patterns in the formation of self-concept in early adults who experience fatherlessness, analyze self-disclosure in early adults, and to analyze communication barriers felt by early adults who experience fatherlessness in Medan City. The theories used in this research are Symbolic Interaction Theory, Self-Concept and Self-Disclosure. This study uses a qualitative method. The number of informants in this study was 6 (six) early adults who experienced fatherlessness. The research results show that the absence of a father causes the emergence of dysfunctional communication patterns in the family which affects various aspects of the informants' lives such as communication with the surrounding environment and their self-concept. Communication barriers found in early adult individuals are psychological barriers or psychological noise, which is caused by the loss of the father's role due to death or his absence in the informant's growth and development during childhood. This condition creates a fear of communicating and causes difficulty in expressing feelings

Preference for Life Partners in Early Adult Women: The Role of Self-Esteem and Father's Involvement?

Fathers have a big influence on rational decision making for early adult women. There is a positive relationship between the influence of father involvement on early adult women's decision making. Women who are close to their fathers tend to have the same preferences as their fathers in choosing a life partner. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-esteem and father involvement with life partner selection preferences in early adult women. Purposive sampling technique was used for sampling in this study and 201 subjects were involved. Data collection was carried out using the Partner Selection Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, and Father's Involvement Scale with reliability of 0.705, 0.940, and 0.942 respectively. The data analysis method used in this research is multiple regression analysis using JASP for Windows software. The results of the research show the coefficient of determination (r2) = 0.788, F count of 366.978, and a significance level of 0.001 (P > 0.001) so it can be concluded that self-esteem and father involvement have an influence on the preference for choosing a life partner by 78.8%.Ayah mempunyai pengaruh yang besar terhadap pengambilan keputusan rasional bagi wanita dewasa awal. Terdapat hubungan positif antara pengaruh keterlibatan ayah dengan pengambilan keputusan pada wanita dewasa awal. Wanita yang dekat dengan ayahnya cenderung memiliki preferensi yang sama dengan ayahnya dalam memilih pasangan hidup. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji hubungan antara harga diri dan keterlibatan ayah dengan preferensi pemilihan pasangan hidup pada wanita dewasa awal. Teknik purposive sampling digunakan untuk pengambilan sampel pada penelitian ini dan 201 subjek dilibatkan. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan Skala Pemilihan Pasangan, Skala Harga Diri, dan Skala Keterlibatan Ayah dengan reliabilitas masing-masing sebesar 0,705, 0,940, dan 0,942. Metode analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis regresi berganda dengan menggunakan software JASP for Windows. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan koefisien determinasi (r2) = 0,788, F hitung sebesar 366,978, dan taraf signifikansi 0,001 (P > 0.001) sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa harga diri dan keterlibatan ayah memiliki pengaruh terhadap preferensi pemilihan pasangan hidup sebesar 78.8%.

A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Empirical Studies on Earned Secure Attachment.

Earned-Secure Attachment (ESA) can be defined as the process by which individuals with insecure childhood attachment rise above malevolent childhood experiences to develop secure relationships pattern in adulthood. To our knowledge, no previous review has summarized findings from empirical literature about this topic. To fill this gap, we conduct a preregistered scoping review (research published until 2023) following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, to find how ESA has been defined, assessed, and studied in the empirical literature. Four databases were searched (Scopus, PsycInfo, PubMed and Web of Science), 24 studies were included in the review and were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings from our review reveal a more formal than substantial agreement on the conceptualization of ESA and the conclusions that can be made, considering the heterogeneity of our results, are only preliminary. Developmental factors, the association between ESA and depressive symptoms and the role of fathers remain poorly defined, although the importance of secondary attachment figures and reflective functioning as factors that may contribute to earned-security in attachment is clear. Recommendations and future steps for researchers and practitioners are highlighted.

Environmental sensitivity moderates the longitudinal effect of fathers' positive parenting on mental disorders in Chinese adolescents

BackgroundExposure to fathers' positive parenting has been associated reducing mental disorder symptoms during adolescence, evidence on the mechanisms underlying this association is lacking. One potential mechanism linking fathers' positive parenting and mental disorders is environmental sensitivity (ES). Here we studied whether the increased positive behaviors of both parents (1) separately, (2) relatively, (3) and jointly predict reduced depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), and increased well-being in Chinese adolescents. Additionally we investigated (4) whether ES moderates these relationships. MethodsThis study involving 7010 Chinese adolescents (55.6 % girls) aged 15 to 18 from six junior high schools in Shaanxi, China was conducted at four timepoints. ES was assessed using the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) scale at ages 15 and 16, parental positive behaviors using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) at ages 16 and 17, and psychopathology symptoms using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory at ages 17 and 18. Results(1) Multilevel analyses revealed that increased positive parenting predicted reduced psychiatric disorder symptoms and improved well-being; (2) trend interaction indicated that the compensatory effect of fathers' positive parenting was stronger in alleviating mental problems in adolescents than that of mothers'; (3) Simple slope analyses suggested that both high levels of fathers' and mothers' positive parenting predicted fewer subsequent psychiatric disorder symptoms, particularly for sensitive adolescents. LimitationsThis study was limited to its generalizability to the Western Chinese adolescents. ConclusionsSubstantial differences in the effects of positive paternal and maternal parenting highlight the important role of fathers' positive parenting in mental development, especially for highly sensitive adolescents.

"I'm not your grandpa": Experiences of advanced age fathers raising their teenage children in Belgium, an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

This study aims to gain more insight in the lived experience of men who became father at an advanced age (40 years or older). Advanced Parental Age (APA) is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon as the average age at which people have children has been increasing for decades now. However, the psychosocial dimension of APA-fatherhood in particular remains a highly understudied topic. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis presents findings from a qualitative interview study with seven men who fathered their (now teenage) children in their early 40s to early 50s. Interviews were semi-structured and focused on lived experiences of the participants and their normative stances regarding the topic of parenting at an advanced age. Three themes were identified: The fathers in our sample describe their APA as a result of life events rather than an intentional postponement. Second, they managed how they were perceived as APA-fathers by distancing themselves from 'too old' parents. However, these fathers did not perceive fatherhood at a younger age as better than their current APA. Three fathers, who also had an earlier fatherhood experience, provided a rich account of how they made sense of their fatherhood roles in both families. Third, the seven fathers encountered social stigma, leading to various coping strategies. These findings contribute to better understanding the psychosocial dimension of APA-fatherhood.