Perceived Paternal Involvement, Relationship Satisfaction, Mothers' Mental Health and Parenting Stress: A Multi-Sample Path Analysis

Abstract

Research has demonstrated the short-and long-term impacts of maternal mental health and well-being on children's emotional and behavioral outcomes. It is thus important to better understand the antecedents of maternal depression and stress. The aim of this study was to determine whether the contribution of perceived paternal involvement to account for mothers' depression and parental stress was mediated by relationship factors such as parenting alliance and dyadic adjustment. A second aim was to determine whether these relationships hold equally true in mothers of infants and young toddlers (0-24 months) and mothers of older children (25 months and older). Cross-sectional data were collected from 447 mothers. Mothers reported on their perceptions of paternal involvement with childcare responsibilities, dyadic adjustment, parenting alliance, parenting stress, and depression. Multi-sample path modeling analyses were conducted. Results revealed that perceived paternal involvement was positively related to both dyadic adjustment and parental alliance, that parenting alliance was negatively related to all three subscales of parenting stress and mothers' depression but that dyadic adjustment was negatively related to parenting distress (one subscale of parenting stress) and mothers' depression. Results from the multi-sample analyses indicated that the pattern of relationships was the same in the two groups, but that the model was not invariant. The most notable difference was that parenting alliance did not significantly account for depression in the mothers of younger children. Correlates of maternal mental health and well-being identified in this study could be useful when designing psychological interventions for mothers and fathers.

Associations of youth mental health, parental psychological distress, and family relationships during the COVID-19 outbreak in China

“…Furthermore, this study reveals significant associations among parent-child relationships, marital relationships and parent mental health. Following existing studies, the results suggest that parents with higher quality marital and parent-child relationships report fewer mental health symptoms [ 32 , 46 ]. This finding is supported by the social support theory field [ 46 ], wherein the relationship perspective states that relationships enhance mental well-being by providing companionship and intimacy [ 47 ].…”

“…Furthermore, previous research has shown that a positive family relationship benefits parent mental health. In contrast, an insecure attachment with children or partners can lead to mental health issues such as stress and depression symptoms [ 32 , 33 ]. Thus, it is reasonable for this study to assume that parents with better family relationships and more terrific family cohesion would report fewer mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

The relationship between parental depression and child internalizing and externalizing problems: The roles of parenting stress and child maltreatment

“…Even though the associations between parental depression, child internalizing and externalizing problems, and parenting stress have been explored by extensive research, few studies have explored the roles of parenting stress in the relationships between parental depression and child internalizing and externalizing problems, particularly in children of preschool age. Parents with high levels of depression may have attention biases to negative information ( 29 ), which may increase parenting stress ( 30 ), and, finally, contribute to child internalizing and externalizing problems ( 31 ). Thus, we hypothesize that parenting stress mediates the relationships between parental depression and child internalizing and externalizing problems within the Chinese cultural context.…”

Care burden, coping styles and involvement in care in mothers of autistic children in pandemic of COVID‐19

“…While the studies have shown that there is a statistically significant negative relation between fathers' involvement and mothers stress in families having children with autism. (DeMontigny et al, 2020 ; Hu et al, 2017 ). However, the emerging disease of COVID‐19 can affect the care burden and coping styles methods of these parents.…”