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Differential susceptibility to fathers' care and involvement: The moderating effect of infant reactivity

Paul G Ramchandani, Marinus van I Jzendoorn, Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg

    Family Science
    |November 11, 2011
    PubMed

    Insights

    Children with reactive temperaments, especially girls, are more influenced by father involvement. Greater involvement leads to fewer problem behaviors and more prosocial behaviors, supporting differential susceptibility.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental Psychology
    • Child Behavior Research
    • Family Studies

    Background:

    • The differential susceptibility hypothesis posits that individuals vary in their sensitivity to environmental influences.
    • Children with reactive temperaments are theorized to be more susceptible to both positive and negative environmental factors.
    • Previous research has explored parental influences, but the moderating role of infant temperament concerning fathers' impact requires further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine if infant temperament moderates the influence of fathers' involvement and depression on child prosocial and problem behaviors.
    • To investigate the interplay between child gender, infant reactivity, and father involvement.
    • To test predictions derived from the differential susceptibility hypothesis in the context of father-child relationships.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large prospective population study.
    • Followed 5064 children from 6 months to 6.75 years, assessing infant temperament, child behaviors, and father involvement and depression.
    • Employed statistical analyses to explore moderating effects of temperament and interactions with child gender and father involvement.

    Main Results:

    • No overall moderating effect of reactive temperament was found for father involvement or depression across all children.
    • A significant interaction emerged between child reactivity, child gender, and father involvement.
    • Specifically, girls with reactive temperaments exhibited greater susceptibility: increased father involvement was linked to fewer problem behaviors and more prosocial behaviors, while decreased involvement showed the opposite pattern.

    Conclusions:

    • Findings offer partial support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis.
    • Infant temperament, particularly in girls, moderates the impact of father involvement on child behavior, influencing both prosocial and problem behaviors.
    • This study extends understanding of differential susceptibility by highlighting the crucial role of fathers' involvement and its interaction with child characteristics.

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