The Effect of Fathers’ Parental Role Belief on the Father-Child Play Interaction: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Objectives This study is intended to reveal the relationship between Father-Child Play Interaction, Fathers’ Parental Role Belief and Parent-Child Relationships. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of fathers' parental role belief on father-child play interaction, focusing on the mediating effect of parent-child relationships in the relationship between fathers' parental role belief and father-child play interaction.
 Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 467 father of 3, 4 and 5 years old children attending kindergartens and childcare centers. To check the reliability of the questionnaire items, cronbach's α was calculated, and partial correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed. Next, multiple regression analysis proposed by Baron & Kenney(1986) was performed to analyze the mediating effect of father's belief in father's role on father-child play interaction.
 Results First, father’s parental role belief had biggest effect on father-child play interaction, and it was followed by parent-child relationships in order. Second, parent-child relationships partially mediated the effect of father’s parental role belief on father-child play interaction. This means that fathers need to recognize their parent-child relationship more positively as well as admit their parental role & beliefs more actively in order to have more frequent play interactions with their children.
 Conclusions In order for fathers to have active play interactions with their children, it is necessary to actively recognize fathers' beliefs in parental roles. Active recognition of fathers' parental role belief can increase play interaction through mediating effect path in which fathers positively perceive relationship with their children.