1-162 - Beyond Playmates And Enforcers: A Move Toward Understanding Fathers’ Unique And Varied Roles In Children’s Early Development

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Decades of empirical work show that fathers have a uniquely important role in their children’s development, both through direct engagements with their children and through relationships with their partners (Lamb & Lewis, 2010). However, research still neglects fathers’ roles in their children’s development, which contrasts with recent societal trends of parents as partners who share responsibility for raising children. Research on fathers’ experiences in the transition to parenthood as well as their direct contributions to children’s emotional and psychophysiological development are key areas still in need of exploration. This symposium examines the unique roles of fathers by employing multi-method approaches (psychophysiological, self-report, observational, longitudinal) across early developmental stages (prenatal to preschool).

Group 1 will present preliminary data showing that fathers’ prenatal testosterone is longitudinally associated with marital satisfaction, which is related to parenting stress postpartum. Group 2 will discuss associations between fathers’ emotion socialization practices and children’s affective communication during interactions with their fathers. Group 3 will demonstrate how fathers’ and mothers’ parenting styles relate to children’s physiological stress responses. Finally, a discussant will provide expert commentary on fathers’ roles within a family systems framework. Together, these presentations provide insight into how fathers’ roles unfold over children’s developmental stages and how fathers contribute to development beyond the contributions of mothers. In early infancy, fathers’ role may be particularly important for supporting mothers’ needs, whereas in toddlerhood and preschool, the quality of fathers’ direct engagements with children is essential for optimal development.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Hannah F Rasmussen, University of Southern California

Discussant

• Philip A Cowan, University of California Berkeley

Individual Presentations

• Expectant Father's Prenatal Testosterone and Postpartum Relationship and Parenting Outcomes - Presenting Author: Hannah Lyden, University of Southern California; Bryna Tsai, University of Southern California; Sarah A. Stoycos, University of Southern California; Geoffrey Corner, University of Southern California; Mona Khaled, University of Southern California; Darby Saxbe, University of Southern California

• "I Love You When You're Happy." Fathers' Conditional Regard and Toddlers' Affective Communication - Presenting Author: Katherine V Buttitta, Claremont Graduate University; Margaret L. Burkhart, Claremont Graduate University; Hannah F Rasmussen, University of Southern California; Patricia A Smiley, Pomona College; Jessica Borelli, Pomona College

• Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting Styles and the Shaping of the Stress Response - Presenting Author: Stacey N Doan, Claremont McKenna College; Twila Tardif, University of Michigan; Alison Miller, University of Michigan; Sheryl Olson, University of Michigan; Barbara Felt, University of Michigan; Li Wang, Peking University