The Father’s Part: Influences of Paternal Psychopathology and Parenting Behavior on Child and Adolescent Well-Being

Mestermann S, Arndt M, Fasching P, Beckmann M, Kratz O, Moll G, Kornhuber J, Eichler A (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Healthcare MDPI

Book Volume: 11

Article Number: 2119

Journal Issue: 15

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152119

Abstract

Family influences on child quality of life (QoL) are increasingly understood. Parenting behavior and parent individual psychopathology are among the established predictors of offspring mental health. However, literature often addresses these factors as ‘parental’, lacking further gender-specific differentiation while predominantly studying maternal aspects. Social and biological fathers are still underrepresented in family research. The aim of this study was to analyze paternal contributions to child well-being. A total of 197 father/mother-dyads gave a standardized self-report on parenting behavior and their own psychopathology at child primary school age (t1; 6–10 y). Ratings were compared mutually and associated with child self-rated QoL at t1 and adolescence (t2; 12–14 y). Fathers and mothers differed in psychopathology and most parenting behavior dimensions (positive parenting, involvement, responsible parenting, poor monitoring, and corporal punishment). Father psychopathology made a relevant predictive contribution to girls’ QoL at t2. Boys’ t1 QoL was significantly influenced by maternal parenting factors (positivity and corporal punishment). Compared to mothers, fathers are faced with different individual stressors; paternal parenting behavior is different, while fathers’ influences are significant, particularly for daughters. Father-addressed pre- and intervention programs in child psychotherapeutic treatment are of high relevance.

Authors with CRIS profile

Stefan Mestermann Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Peter Fasching Professur für Translationale Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde Oliver Kratz Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Gunther Moll Professur für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie Johannes Kornhuber Lehrstuhl für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Anna Eichler Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

How to cite

APA:

Mestermann, S., Arndt, M., Fasching, P., Beckmann, M., Kratz, O., Moll, G.,... Eichler, A. (2023). The Father’s Part: Influences of Paternal Psychopathology and Parenting Behavior on Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Healthcare, 11(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152119

MLA:

Mestermann, Stefan, et al. "The Father’s Part: Influences of Paternal Psychopathology and Parenting Behavior on Child and Adolescent Well-Being." Healthcare 11.15 (2023).

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