Fathers in the Dorm Room: The Unique Influence of Fathers and Mothers on Young Adult Functioning

Abstract

A sample of college students (N = 129; mean age = 19 years) at a small, religious university in the Pacific Northwest completed questionnaires assessing parental acceptance and rejection, depression, coping, and social experiences. Depression was positively related to perceived father acceptance and inversely related to his rejection, but not to either mother variables. Interestingly, only fathers' acceptance was inversely related to depression for daughters, whereas only mothers' acceptance was similarly related to sons' depression. Mothers' acceptance was positively related to perceived social support from significant others, whereas fathers' acceptance and rejection-but not mothers'-were positively and inversely related, respectively, to social experiences with friends. Results highlight distinct associations between father-versus mother-child relationships and young adult socio-emotional outcomes.

Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia

“…This could also explain the significant association that we found between the attachment to mothers, but not to fathers, and alexithymia, which is in accordance with the previous studies showing that difficulties in emotional regulation are predicted by insecure attachment to parents and especially to mothers [ 137 , 138 ]. However, in support of the international literature underlying the central role that the paternal relationship continues to assume for young adult psychological well-being [ 139 ], the influence of the attachment to fathers on IA was exerted through its predictive role on peritraumatic distress symptoms. On the other hand, as our results also suggested, during young adulthood the influence of peers on an individual’s psychological well-being becomes increasingly important [ 140 ].…”

Depression, Masculine Norm Adherence, and Fathering Behavior

“…disciplinarian and are actively involved in caregiving and emotional parenting tasks (Bianchi et al, 2006;Marsiglio & Roy, 2012). The increasing engagement by fathers in the lives of their children has positive effects for children from infancy (St. George, Fletcher, Freeman, Paquette, & Dumont, 2015) to adolescence (Gordon, 2016) and into adulthood (Rostad, Medina, & Hurtig-Crosby, 2014). For example, active paternal engagement is positively associated with the physical health, mental health, scholarly performance, and overall well-being of children (Coley & Coltrane, 2007).…”

Parent and Family Engagement in Higher Education

“…Additional work argues that overinvolvement of parents is positively correlated to the recreational use of depression, anxiety, and pain pills (LeMoyne & Buchanan, ). Similarly, Rostad, Medina, and Hurtig‐Crosby () have determined that parental rejection, particularly rejection by father, is positively related to college student depression.…”