Should a mum be worried about a stressed father?

Question 1

Statement

Answer 1

You shouldn’t be worried about work hours alone, it is only when role overload and stress is considered. So, you should ensure that your husband isn’t very stressed with the child. Relationships with fathers are problematic when fathers work long hours and feel overload. As well as this, involvement is always good and promotes lots of things - so should try and get him as involved as possible

Question 2

Point 1

Answer 2

Work hours alone don’t matter - it is only when role overload is considered
It is fine to not spend that much time with father
Maternal work hours are more important for the relationship than paternal work hours - Bianchi et al, 2006

Question 3

Point 1 - evidence 1

Answer 3

Cox et al 1992
Looked at couples and first born, IV’s assessed at 3 months via interviews and parent-child free play observation
DV assessed by strange situation at 12-13 months
Time with infant is a negative correlation for infant-father security - the more time they spend with them, the less secure they are (-.28)

longitudinal study of development - looked at both mothers and fathers in the strange situation

Question 4

Point 1 - evidence 2

Answer 4

Crouter et al 2004
Long work hours and high overload was associated with less positive father-adolescent relationships - when the work is stressful, they engage in more conflict with their offspring
fathers were seen as less accepting
Found an interaction effect
have data from 2 siblings, obtained perspectives on lots of people: husbands, wives and children
Longitudinal

Question 5

Point 2

Answer 5

Stress and hostility is bad

Question 6

Point 2 - evidence 1

Answer 6

Roeters et al 2010
Longer work hours and less engagement were associated with less parent child time. Longer working hours, more restrictive organisational norms, and stress increased disturbance of parent-child relationships

Used a big age range 4-18
1008 fathers and 929 mothers

Question 7

Point 2 - evidence 2

Answer 7

Byrd-Craven et al 2012
Those who reported father–daughter relationships characterized by rejection, chaos, and coercion had higher pretask cortisol levels, had elevated cortisol in response to problem discussion with a friend  this means they were more stressed. The ones who had father-daughter relationships which included warmth, autonomy and support had lower cortisol levels
added to daughter stress levels

objective measure looking at HPA axis an the autonomic nervous system

Question 8

Point 2 - evidence 3

Answer 8

Wheeler et al 2015
Paternal work pressure was indirectly linked to adolescence adjustment – shows that work conditions have important implications for adolescent’s adjustment

Question 9

Point 2 - evidence 4

Answer 9

Giallo 2013
The relationship between fathers’ postnatal distress and children outcomes was mediated by parenting hostility (angry and frustrated)

longitidunal study
mediation - looked at lots of variables

Question 10

Point 3

Answer 10

However, involvement is always good, so it is important that the father gets involved when he isn’t working and doesn’t get too stressed

Question 11

Point 3 - evidence 1

Answer 11

Dubowitz et al 2001
Father presence was associated with better cognitive development and greater perceived competence by the children. Involvement and support from the father meant the child had stronger sense of social competence and less depressive symptoms – support the value of fathers’ presence to their children’s functioning

cross sectional study - so can’t see it over time. But point below is longitudinal

Question 12

Point 3 - evidence 2

Answer 12

Flouri and Buchanan 2003
Father involvement at age 7 protected against psychological maladjustment in adolescence and father involvement at age 16 protected against adult psychological distress in women

controlled for mother involvement and other confounds
longitudinal data

Question 13

Conclusion

Answer 13

You shouldn’t be worried about long work hours alone, but if your husband is stressed and doesn’t spend much time with your child then problems may occur. Advise you to ensure that he isn’t stressed around your child

Question 14

Point 1 - evidence 3

Answer 14

Grossman, Pollack and Golding, 1988
Predicted dads quantity and quality of fathering from fathers characteristics and mothers characteristics
Followed from pregnancy till age 5
For quantity, wives scores more important than husbands own characteristics - women seem to be gatekeepers
For quality, husbands scores most important

Longitidunal