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Lekka, Shamila K.

Psychology

2011

PhD

In this study, the effects of history of rejection on fathers' parenting attitudes, parenting efficacy and satisfaction were examined. The moderating role of a supportive adult and the mediating role of partner support and work stress were also examined. One hundred and thirteen fathers participated in the study. Fathers completed questionnaires online on their history of acceptance and rejection, parenting attitudes (warmth, aggravation and strictness), parenting efficacy and satisfaction, presence or absence of a supportive adult, satisfaction with partner support, and the intensity and frequency of work stress.
Results were as follows: 1) history of rejection by fathers and mothers predicted fathers' parenting attitudes and their warmth, aggravation, and strictness as hypothesized; 2) having a supportive adult in childhood moderated the effect of paternal rejection on fathers' parenting warmth; 3) partner support mediated the associations between history of paternal and maternal rejection on fathers' parenting attitudes and its subscales; 4) work stress mediated the association between history of maternal rejection and parenting satisfaction. Possible mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of parenting are discussed from both an attachment and a social learning perspective. Implications of the findings for intervention and prevention as well as future policy toward at risk fathers are discussed.