Stresses and mental health of fathers with younger children

What is it about?

In the past two decades there has been an upsurge of interest in the understanding of the roles and functions of fathers in parenting. Although the nature of influence of fathers on their offspring is still a subject of contention, it has been found that children with highly involved fathers are characterized by increased cognitive competence and empathy, less sex-stereotyped beliefs and a more internal locus of control (Pleck, 1997; Radin, 1994). Lamb (1997) reviewed studies of paternal involvement and concluded that fathers exert beneficial effects on their children when they are supportive, when they are nurturing in their relationships with their children, when they feel competent as a parent and when they fulfil the roles of a breadwinner. However, while these fathers may enjoy the increase in recognition as a contributor to the wellbeing of their children, they may also be experiencing more stress in their caring roles. Indeed, studies in the West have suggested that parenting is generally stressful for fathers as well as mothers (Miller and Sollie, 1980; Ventura, 1987), and that all parents have to cope with the day-to-day stressors associated with parenting (Rodd, 1993).

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