The Role of Paternal Parenting and Co-parenting Quality in Children’s Academic Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study explored the unique effect of fathers’ parenting behaviors and the quality of co-parenting described as the degree of consistency between paternal and maternal parenting behaviors on children’s academic self-efficacy. The power of both pancultural parenting behaviors (i.e., emotional warmth and rejection) and specific parenting controlling behaviors that are relatively common in Turkish culture (i.e., intrusion and guilt induction) in predicting academic self-efficacy was tested. A total of 1,931 children completed measures of parenting behaviors and academic self-efficacy in math and literature courses in their school. Overall, girls reported higher levels of literature self-efficacy, whereas boys reported higher levels of math self-efficacy. Compared to boys, girls perceived higher levels of positive parenting behaviors from both their fathers and mothers. The results of the regression analyses showed that, whereas father warmth had stronger effects on boys’ math self-efficacy, mother warmth had stronger effects on girls’ literature self-efficacy. Examination of the effects of co-parenting quality demonstrated that children with positively consistent parents (i.e., both parents having high positive and low negative parenting behaviors) reported the highest level of academic self-efficacy, whereas those having negatively consistent parents had the lowest level of academic self-efficacy. Analyses on inconsistent co-parenting, however, yielded compensatory effects, which were similar to positively consistent parents, and deterioration effects, which were similar to negatively consistent parents depending on the gender of parent and child, domain of parenting behavior, and academic efficacy. This study contributed to the current literature by showing the unique role of fathers over and beyond mothers, and confirmed the importance of positive parenting and parenting consistency in promoting children’s academic efficacy. Cultural and practical implications of the findings were discussed.

Co‐parenting and parenting behaviour: The role of parent mental health for mothers and fathers in the postnatal period

“…Co‐parenting is a key factor associated with parenting behaviour and children's health, wellbeing and development (Morrill et al, 2010; Parkes et al, 2019; Wade et al, 2022). Although the vast majority of research focuses on co‐parenting and child outcomes (Teubert & Pinquart, 2010; Zhengyan & Nanhua, 2014), there is a small body of research showing that co‐parenting is associated with two parenting behaviours: harsh or hostile parenting (Choi & Becher, 2019) and parenting warmth (Bonds & Gondoli, 2007; Chen, 2020; Kara & Sümer, 2022). Harsh or hostile parenting refers to behaviours that are characterized by anger, aggression, yelling or losing temper with a child, spanking and harsh discipline (Le et al, 2017).…”

Gender Construction in Family Reality: A Case Study of the Role of Post Divorce Family Interactions in Indonesia

“…The roles of fathers are as important as the roles of mothers in the growth and development of children and their psychosocial development (Pekel-Uludağlı, 2023). In the family, fathers engage in developing children's social skills and understanding of values and rules, whereas mothers take part in child development (Jeynes, 2016;Kara & Sümer, 2022). Consequently, it takes the presence of both fathers and mothers for children to become individuals who recognise their social roles.…”