Paternal childcare in early childhood and problematic behavior in children: a population-based prospective study in
Manami Ochi1,2, Takeo Fujiwara3
1Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako City, Saitama, Japan. ochi.m.aa@niph.go.jp.
Insights
Increased paternal childcare, including playing and outdoor activities, in toddlerhood may prevent behavioral problems in children. This study highlights the importance of father involvement for child development in Japan.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Behavioral Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Paternal childcare's impact on child behavior is understudied in Japan due to fathers' long working hours.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding paternal childcare effects in Asian contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between paternal childcare (hours and type) during toddlerhood and behavioral problems at 5.5 years.
- To investigate sex-specific effects of paternal involvement on child behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in Japan (N=27,870).
- Assessment of paternal childcare hours and activities (feeding, bathing, playing, etc.) at 18 months.
- Evaluation of child behavioral problems at 5.5 years using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Longer paternal childcare hours correlated with fewer behavioral problems at 5.5 years.
- Increased father-child outdoor play showed a dose-response protective effect on boys' behavior.
- Increased father-child home play was linked to fewer behavioral problems in both boys and girls.
Conclusions:
- Paternal childcare during toddlerhood is crucial for preventing later behavioral issues.
- Specific paternal behaviors like playing at home and taking children outdoors are key protective factors.
Background:
There have been numerous reports on the effects of paternal childcare on children's behavioral development. However, little is known about these effects in Asian countries such as Japan, where fathers do not have sufficient time for childcare due to long working hours. This study explored the association between paternal childcare during toddlerhood in terms of childcare hours and the type of caregiving behavior and subsequent behavioral problems in children aged 5.5 years, stratified by sex.
Methods:
We analyzed data from the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the twenty-first Century (2001-2006), a population-based cohort survey in Japan (N = 27,870). Paternal childcare was assessed at 18 months in terms of paternal childcare hours on weekdays or weekends and the frequency of each type of childcare (feeding, changing diapers, bathing, putting the child to sleep, playing with the child at home, and taking the child outside). Based on the frequency or lack of paternal involvement, six categories of child behavioral problems were assessed when the children were 5.5 years old. Logistic regression analysis was applied to account for the known confounding variables.
Results:
Longer paternal childcare hours, on both weekdays and weekends in toddlerhood, had a protective effect on behavioral problems at 5.5 years of age. The dose-effect relationships were found between the frequency of fathers taking their children outside and behavioral problems in boys, and the frequency of fathers playing with their children at home and behavioral problems in both boys and girls.
Conclusions:
Paternal childcare during toddlerhood could prevent subsequent behavioral problems in children. Several specific paternal caregiving behaviors, such as taking their children outside and playing with them at home, may play an important role in preventing subsequent behavioral problems.
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