Poster #137 - A Qualitative Exploration of Similarities and Differences in Mothers’ and Fathers’ Emotions While Parenting Toddlers

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Parenting young children encompasses complex, emotional experiences that impact parenting behaviors, parent well-being, and subsequently child well-being (Dix, 1991; Field, 1995; Nelson, Kushlev, & Lyubomirsky, 2014). While some studies identify global similarities and differences in mothers’ and fathers’ parenting emotions (Nyström & Öhrling, 2003; Dykstra & Keizer, 2009), little has been done to qualitatively explore what drives these emotions and their influence on parent-child relationships. To further understand the influence of parenting emotions, we first need to better understand the experiences that evoke specific emotions for mothers and fathers. Through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, we aim to: 1) explore the variety of experiences that arise across emotions and across mothers and fathers, and 2) compare recurring themes between mothers and fathers and between positive and negative emotions.

The current data were collected on a sample of socioeconomically (22% earned below $40,000; 53% earned less than Bachelor’s degree) and ethnically (47% Latinx) diverse mother-father dyads (N=74) with at least one toddler-aged child (M= 20.7 months, SD= 2.5). The Parent Development Interview-Revised (Slade et al., 2004) was administered by trained research assistants and analyzed using thematic analysis. Through an iterative process, initial codes for emotions and emotion-evoking experiences were identified, refined through group discussion, and consolidated into broader core themes (Nowell et al., 2017). We focused on a subset of interview questions (“What brings you [emotion] as a parent?”) that inquired about experiences of six specific emotions: joy, pain/difficulty, happiness, guilt, pride, and annoyed/angry, each coded separately.

Preliminary analysis suggests that similar themes emerge between positive and negative emotions and between mothers and fathers (Table 1). For example, mothers and fathers both felt pride when children were well-behaved and felt annoyed or angry when they misbehaved. Although general themes driving emotions were similar for mothers and fathers, their reflections on the experiences varied. For example, fathers felt guilty for taking time away from their children for work or self-care, while mothers felt guilty for wanting time away, regardless of whether they spent time away from their child. Table 2 provides examples of how mothers’ and fathers’ responses may look different within the same emotion and coded theme. This variance may reflect differences in societal expectations of parents by gender, such as mothers as caregivers and fathers as providers (McKinney & Renk, 2008).

These results suggest that while mothers and fathers have similar emotions surrounding parenthood, their day-to-day experiences and reflections on them differ. Given that emotion is closely linked to the quality of parent-child interactions (Dix, 1991; Field, 1995; Teti & Cole, 2011), parents’ emotional experiences have important implications for child development and well-being. For example, parents may react more harshly towards their children when they are angered or annoyed by their behavior (Tavassolie, Dudding, Madigan, Thorvardarson, & Winsler, 2016). Consequently, gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences underlying parents’ emotions, and how mothers and fathers differ, may help inform targeted interventions aimed at improving parenting behaviors and parent-child relationship quality. Further results, conclusions, and future directions will be discussed.

Authors

• Ashleigh Grendziak, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Presenting Author

• Kerrie Ann Fanning, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Katherine V Buttitta, Claremont Graduate University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Margaret Lee Kerr, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  Non-Presenting Author