Dads may be the reason children are on their worst behavior, but its not because they can't be good parents.
A new study from the British Psychological Society found that children will display more troublesome behavior when a father feels unsupported by his wife, according to Science Daily.
Researchers specifically found that children will act more defiant or break their toys when their mothers dont show support toward a fathers child-rearing values or any positive emotion toward fathers, Science Daily reported.
The ways in which parents work together in their roles has been shown to be an important factor in relation to the behaviour of their children, Science Daily reported. However, few studies have distinguished between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the support they receive from their partners."
For the study, 106 traditional families filled out questionnaires and answered telephone interview questions about their parenting techniques and their relationship quality. The study found that the dads who felt unsupported by their partners also felt their children exhibited bad behavior.
Lead researcher Rachel Latham said fathers may not feel confident with their parenting techniques when their partner wont support them, which may impact how well they rear their children.
"Compared to mothering, the fathering role may be less clearly socially defined and fathers may withdraw from it, Latham told Science Daily. Whereas mothers and fathers may see the mother's role as less discretionary than fathers. Or it could be simply that fathers don't feel as confident or competent in their role because, although it is changing, commonly they are still less likely to be the primary child carer."
This finding isnt surprising given recent research about how a dads behavior affects their children. For example, children whose dads suffer from postpartum depression are more likely to develop inappropriate behaviors as they grow up, like hitting, lying, anxiety and sadness, according to a Northwestern University study I wrote about in March.
Thats because dads are so important to a childs early life development. Ronald Ronher, director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut, told LiveScience that dads can sometimes be more influential on a child than a mom.
Ronher told LiveScience that children will often become emotionally unstable, hostile and aggressive when they feel unwanted or rejected by their parents. But, he said, studies have shown that children feel even worse when their dads reject them.
"Knowing that kids feel loved by their father is a better predictor of young adults' sense of well-being, of happiness, of life satisfaction than knowing about the extent to which they feel loved by their mothers," Ronher told LiveScience.
Thats why experts agree that its important for dads to show their children how much they care. Expert Karen Ruskin told our own Tyler Stahle that dads should play with their children as often as possible when they are young so they have fond memories of their father.
Dads should also look to compliment their children every day and listen to what their children have to say, Ruskin said.
A child that feels their voice is heard is a child who feels valued, respected and important, Ruskin told Stahle. A girl who feels valued, respected and important in the life and relationship with her father is a girl who feels loved and special.
A new study from the British Psychological Society found that children will display more troublesome behavior when a father feels unsupported by his wife, according to Science Daily.
Researchers specifically found that children will act more defiant or break their toys when their mothers dont show support toward a fathers child-rearing values or any positive emotion toward fathers, Science Daily reported.
The ways in which parents work together in their roles has been shown to be an important factor in relation to the behaviour of their children, Science Daily reported. However, few studies have distinguished between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the support they receive from their partners."
For the study, 106 traditional families filled out questionnaires and answered telephone interview questions about their parenting techniques and their relationship quality. The study found that the dads who felt unsupported by their partners also felt their children exhibited bad behavior.
Lead researcher Rachel Latham said fathers may not feel confident with their parenting techniques when their partner wont support them, which may impact how well they rear their children.
"Compared to mothering, the fathering role may be less clearly socially defined and fathers may withdraw from it, Latham told Science Daily. Whereas mothers and fathers may see the mother's role as less discretionary than fathers. Or it could be simply that fathers don't feel as confident or competent in their role because, although it is changing, commonly they are still less likely to be the primary child carer."
This finding isnt surprising given recent research about how a dads behavior affects their children. For example, children whose dads suffer from postpartum depression are more likely to develop inappropriate behaviors as they grow up, like hitting, lying, anxiety and sadness, according to a Northwestern University study I wrote about in March.
Thats because dads are so important to a childs early life development. Ronald Ronher, director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut, told LiveScience that dads can sometimes be more influential on a child than a mom.
Ronher told LiveScience that children will often become emotionally unstable, hostile and aggressive when they feel unwanted or rejected by their parents. But, he said, studies have shown that children feel even worse when their dads reject them.
"Knowing that kids feel loved by their father is a better predictor of young adults' sense of well-being, of happiness, of life satisfaction than knowing about the extent to which they feel loved by their mothers," Ronher told LiveScience.
Thats why experts agree that its important for dads to show their children how much they care. Expert Karen Ruskin told our own Tyler Stahle that dads should play with their children as often as possible when they are young so they have fond memories of their father.
Dads should also look to compliment their children every day and listen to what their children have to say, Ruskin said.
A child that feels their voice is heard is a child who feels valued, respected and important, Ruskin told Stahle. A girl who feels valued, respected and important in the life and relationship with her father is a girl who feels loved and special.
