Parenting Predictors of Father-Child Attachment Security: Interactive Effects of Father Involvement and Fathering Quality

Abstract

This study examined the parenting predictors of father-child attachment security in early childhood. Results suggest that multiple dimensions of fathers' parenting quality moderated the associations between father involvement, in its original content-free sense, and father-child attachment. Specifically, father involvement was generally unrelated to attachment security when fathers engaged in high-quality parenting behavior, but associated with lower levels of attachment security when fathers' parenting was less adaptive. Findings provide further evidence for the important role of parenting quality in the fatherchild attachment relationship, and suggest that the consequences of involved fathering for father-child attachment security are dependent upon qualitative aspects of fathering behavior.

The organization of children's secure base behaviour in two-parent Portuguese families and father's participation in child-related activities

“…In other studies either no associations were found or (negative) interactive effects have been reported (e.g., Brown et al, 2007;Cox et al, 1992;Easterbrooks & Goldberg, 1984). Even so, in this sample fathers who shared child-care tasks to a greater extent had children with higher AQS security scores.…”

“…Easterbrooks and Goldberg (1984) reported that father involvement (quantity of time spent with the child) contributed uniquely to child development, independent of associations with the quality of parenting behaviours (although quality also explained a significant proportion of outcome variance), but parent involvement and parenting characteristics simultaneously accounted for a larger proportion of the outcome variance, than either set of characteristics alone. Brown et al (2007) reported that fathers' parenting quality and involvement (i.e., quantity) had interactive effects on child-father attachment relationship. For fathers exhibiting positive parenting behaviours, their degree of engagement did not significantly predict attachment security.…”

“…There is little theoretical or empirical work linking the quantity of father involvement to the development of attachment relationships (Brown, McBride, Shin, & Bost, 2007;Lamb & Tamis-LeMonda, 2004). Nonetheless the assembly of secure base relationships during infant and toddler years requires numerous behavioural transactions between the attached child and the attachment figure over an extended period of time.…”

Father’s involvement and parenting styles in Portuguese families. The role of education and working hours

“…If parents aren't sensible and responsive to child clues, even play activities (usually seen as enjoyable, reciprocal and pleasurable) can be a context for demanding, intrusive or hostile interactions (Brown et al, 2007). In this study, parenting styles were used as "quality" indicator.…”

“…Although initial studies have focused mainly on the presence/absence of fathers and how much time they spent with their children, while this data is fundamental, it is critical to also capture the quality of these interactions and involvement (Brown, McBride, Shin, & Bost, 2007;Coyl-Shepherd, & Newland, 2013;Tremblay & Pierce, 2011). Father involvement should, therefore, be understood as a complex and multidimensional construct, that comprises behaviors, emotions and cognitions (Hawkins & Palkovitz, 1999), and different contexts of interaction (e.g., care or play) (Parke, 1996).…”