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Early fathering as a predictor of later psychosocial functioning among preschool children with behavior problems

Sharonne D Herbert1, Elizabeth A Harvey, Claudia I Lugo-Candelas

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|December 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Early fathering significantly impacts preschool children with behavior problems. Paternal depression and ADHD symptoms predict social, emotional, and academic difficulties, highlighting the importance of father involvement.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Early fathering is crucial for child development, particularly for children exhibiting behavioral issues.
  • Understanding the specific paternal factors influencing social, emotional, and academic trajectories is essential for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal impact of early fathering characteristics on the functioning of preschool children with behavior problems.
  • To identify specific paternal factors, such as depressive symptoms, ADHD symptoms, and parenting behaviors, associated with child outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 128 preschool children (aged 3) with behavior problems and their biological fathers over 3 years.
  • Assessment of paternal factors including depressive symptoms, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, socioeconomic status (SES), and parenting behaviors (laxness, commands).
  • Evaluation of child outcomes including externalizing/internalizing problems, social skills, cognitive, and academic functioning.

Main Results:

  • Early paternal depressive symptoms predicted poorer child outcomes across social, emotional, and academic domains 3 years later.
  • Paternal SES and ADHD symptoms (self-reported and observed behaviors like laxness and commands) were associated with increased child externalizing problems.
  • Paternal depressive symptoms and laxness mediated the link between paternal ADHD symptoms and child functioning.

Conclusions:

  • Early father functioning, including mental health and parenting style, plays a significant role in the development of preschool children with behavior problems.
  • Interventions targeting paternal well-being and parenting practices may improve psychosocial, cognitive, and academic outcomes for at-risk children.
  • The findings underscore the critical influence of fathers in shaping the developmental trajectories of young children facing behavioral challenges.

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