Fathers’ Mood, Behaviour And Disposition Affect Their Kids’ Behaviour Big Time

“There’s this whole idea that grew out of past research that dads really don’t have direct effects on their kids,” the researchers said.

If you’re a dad, chances are you will lose your temper once or twice—or, fine, a handful of times. And no one will blame you for it. After all, it comes with the parenthood territory.

But did you know that how a father is feeling affects his children more than he thinks he does? And it isn’t only about his temper, it also involves his general mood and disposition.

According to a Michigan State University study, children’s mental and behavioural development is strongly linked to their fathers’ moods.

Image source: iStock

This is because parental stress and mental health issues affect how parents interact with their children and, subsequently, childhood development.

“There’s this whole idea that grew out of past research that dads really don’t have direct effects on their kids,” said Claire Vallotton, associate professor and primary investigator on the research project.

Fathers carried this image that they simply set the tone of the household, while it was the mothers influence that affect their children’s development.

“But here we show that fathers really do have a direct effect on kids, both in the short term and long term,” professor Vallotton said.

Said a Michigan State University story:

The study found that fathers’ parenting-related stress had a harmful effect on their children’s cognitive and language development when the children were 2 to 3 years old, even when the mothers’ influences were taken into account. This impact varied by gender; fathers’ influence, for example, had a larger effect on boys’ language than girls’ language.

Image source: iStock

Another key finding is that fathers’ and mothers’ mental health had a similarly significant effect on behaviour problems among toddlers.

Furthermore, fathers’ mental health had a long-term impact, leading to differences in children’s social skills (such as self-control and cooperation) when the children reached fifth grade.

In fact, fathers’ depression symptoms when children were toddlers were more influential on children’s later social skills than were mothers’ symptoms.

What the study highlights is the father’s significant role in the household, particularly in their children’s cognitive development, and that they have a bigger role in the family that what was originally believed.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

Written by

James Martinez

father and child