The Impact of Attachment, Marital Satisfaction, and WorkRelated Stressors on Fathers Parenting Behav

1
The Impact of Attachment, Marital Satisfaction,
and Work-Related Stressors on Fathers Parenting
Behaviors Ndidi A. Okeke,
Lorraine C. Taylor, Melissa A. Barnett, and
Tameka Oliphant The University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Abstract Although much is known about influences
on maternal parenting behaviors, less attention
has been given to understanding influences on
fathers parenting. The goal of this study is to
examine the relative contributions of three types
of father factors that have been shown to relate
to individual well-being in fathers. By
identifying the relative contributions of these 3
types of influences, the present study adds to
the growing body of research on the unique ways
in which fathers shape child development. Using
data from a sample of 138 married, mostly working
class parents of 24 month old children, this
study examines the relative influence of fathers
own attachment histories (intrapersonal factor),
marital satisfaction (interpersonal factor), and
work-related stressors as measured by work
satisfaction (contextual factor), on his
parenting sensitivity, intrusiveness, and
detachment. Hierarchical regression analyses were
performed. After controlling for fathers
depression and monthly income, work satisfaction
was the only significant predictor of fathers
sensitivity.
Results Hierarchical linear regression models
estimated the impact of fathers adult
attachment, marital satisfaction, and
work-related stressors on sensitivity,
intrusiveness, and detachment with his 24-month
old child. Fathers depression and monthly
income were controlled for in all models.
Controls were added to the model in step 1. Each
outcome variable, sensitivity, intrusiveness, and
detachment was analyzed separately. In step 2,
3, and 4 fathers adult attachment, marital
satisfaction, and work-related stressors
(measured by work satisfaction) were entered,
respectively. Significant effects were only
found when using father sensitivity as the
outcome variable. This model was only
significant when adding work-related stressors,
measured by work satisfaction. No significant
interactions were found.
Conceptual Model

• Method
• BASELINE SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
• Mean Range
• Fathers Age 28.3 years
  19-41
• Fathers Education 13.9 years
  9-22
• Years Married 3.42 years
  5-17
• Monthly Family Income 2,450
  652-5,000
•  
• Participants
• Data are from a longitudinal study aimed at
  understanding how the birth of a first child
  impacts marriages and how the marital
  relationship influences parenting. Families were
  recruited from prenatal classes in a
  predominantly white, rural area of southeastern
  United States.
• Measures
• Berkeley Adult Attachment Interview-prenatal
  assessment

Table 1. Contribution of adult attachment,
martial satisfaction, and work-related stressors
on parenting sensitivity
Introduction Many factors shape fathers
parenting behaviors. Attachment research
supports relationships between fathers own
attachment with caregivers and subsequent
involvement with children (Parke, 1996).
Positive attachment experiences may buffer some
fathers against other negative influences and may
bolster positive, supportive parenting behaviors.
Although many intra-individual level factors may
affect parenting, there is little research on how
fathers own attachment experiences relate to
other influences on parenting behaviors. Marital
conflict, an interpersonal-level factor, has been
shown to have a deleterious effect on parenting
behaviors and child outcomes (Cummings Davies,
1994). Some studies suggest that for fathers,
marital conflict is related to detachment from
wives and children and that marital discord
spills-over into the parent-child relationship
(Kerig et al., 1993). Work-related stressors are
an important influence on the well-being of
fathers. The role of fathers as breadwinners
gives work-related stressors and income special
salience as factors that may affect parenting
behaviors. Repetti (1989) found that stressful
work conditions predicted greater expressions of
anger and more use of discipline during
father-child interactions. Higher income
fathers have increased levels of involvement,
compared to lower income fathers (Carlson
McLanahan, 2002). This study examines contextual
level factors such as fathers work-related
stressors, measured by work satisfaction, and
income as predictors of parenting behaviors and
will test for interactions with other levels of
influence.
Hierarchical regression
analyses plt.05

• Discussion
• Fathers adult attachment and marital
  satisfaction did not significantly impact
  sensitivity, intrusiveness, and detachment in
  parenting. Work-related stress, as measured in
  this model by work satisfaction, was the only
  significant predictor of sensitivity in
  parenting. This work adds to the growing body of
  research on fathers by showing how contextual
  level factors, such as work stressors, impact
  parenting. More work is needed to understand the
  many factors that shape and influence parenting
  behaviors in fathers. Future research should
  examine the roles mothers have in mediating the
  relationship between fathers work satisfaction
  and parenting behaviors.

 

• Research Questions
• Does fathers adult attachment impact
  sensitivity, intrusiveness, and detachment?
• Does marital satisfaction impact fathers
  sensitivity, intrusiveness, and detachment?
• Do work-related stressors or fathers work
  satisfaction impact fathers sensitivity,
  intrusiveness, and detachment?

http//www.unc.edu/depts/devpsych/posters.html
This research was supported by a grant from the
National Institute of Mental Health to Martha Cox