Abstract:
Objective To explore the regulatory role of father involvement in parenting in the association between maternal emotional symptoms and emotional behavioral problems in preschool children, providing a reference for improving maternal mental health and promoting children's physical and mental health.
Methods Using a stratified cluster sampling method, 6 111 children aged 3 − 6 from 36 kindergartens in three cities of Anhui Province were selected as the research subjects in December 2021. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess emotional and behavioral issues in children aged 3 − 6 years, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were used to assess the emotional state of mothers, and the Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI) questionnaire was used to assess the parenting situation of fathers.
Results The emotional state of mothers (stress, depression, anxiety) was positively correlated with the total score of emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 3 − 6 (all P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with the score of fathers participating in parenting (all P < 0.001); there was a negative correlation (P < 0.001) between father involvement in parenting and the total score of emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 3 − 6 years. After controlling for confounding factors, the involvement of fathers of boys in parenting had a moderating effect on the association between maternal emotional states (stress, depression, anxiety) and children’s emotional and behavioral problems (all P < 0.001), while the involvement of fathers of girls in parenting did not have a moderating effect (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion Father involvement in parenting plays a regulatory role between the emotional state of mothers and the emotional and behavioral problems of 3 − 6 years old children, especially for boys. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of emotional and behavioral problems in 3 − 6 years old children by maintaining a good emotional state of mothers and increasing the involvement of fathers in parenting.