Peer-reviewed article
The Father’s Part: Influences of Paternal Psychopathology and Parenting Behavior on Child and Adolescent Well-Being
Stefan Mestermann, Marie Arndt, Peter Andreas Fasching, Matthias W. Beckmann, Oliver Kratz et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how fathers' mental health and parenting behaviour affect children's well-being, comparing these influences with mothers' contributions. Researchers followed 197 father-mother pairs from when children were in primary school (ages 6-10) through early adolescence (ages 12-14), asking them to report on their parenting and mental health symptoms. The study found that fathers and mothers differ significantly in their parenting approaches and mental health challenges, and that fathers' influences on well-being differ by child gender: fathers' mental health particularly affected daughters' quality of life in adolescence, while mothers' parenting behaviour more strongly influenced sons' quality of life in childhood.
Key points
- Fathers and mothers differed significantly in psychopathology and most parenting dimensions including positive parenting, involvement, responsible parenting, poor monitoring, and corporal punishment
- Father psychopathology was a relevant predictor of girls' quality of life in adolescence (12-14 years)
- Boys' quality of life at primary school age was significantly influenced by maternal parenting factors, particularly positivity and corporal punishment
- Fathers face different individual stressors than mothers and display different parenting behaviours
- The study calls for father-addressed prevention and intervention programs in child psychotherapy
Limitations
The study is observational and cannot establish causation, only associations between paternal factors and child outcomes. The sample is limited to Germany and may not represent other cultural contexts where father involvement and gender roles differ.
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.