Paternal Parenting Experiences and Young Children's Behavior Problems in Chinese Families
Zheng Wang, Dan Wang, Ami Mariko Hood Frost, Yan Ruth XiaABSTRACT
Objective
The current study examines relationships between paternal parenting experiences and behavior problems in young children aged 3–6 years in China.
Background
Although the role and impacts of fathers in parenting have been understood in Western contexts, it is less studied within the Chinese cultural context.
Methods
We used a quota sampling approach and recruited participants through childcare centers, in which interested teachers shared the online survey link with parents. We analyzed data from 485 fathers in Henan province using descriptive statistics, independent samples t ‐tests, and multiple linear regression.
Results
Chinese fathers who reported more cooperative coparenting experienced lower levels of parenting stress, less child maltreatment, and fewer behavior problems in their children than fathers with less cooperative coparenting. Moreover, higher levels of paternal parenting stress and more child maltreatment predicted more child behavior problems, even after adjusting for family characteristics. Finally, cooperative coparenting was associated with fewer child behavior problems.
Conclusions
The findings provide empirical evidence of paternal contribution to child behavioral outcomes in Chinese families.
Implications
The study highlights the need to reduce parenting stress and child maltreatment behaviors among fathers and to enhance cooperative coparenting between mothers and fathers to prevent child maladaptive behaviors.