Father trait anger: Associations with father–infant bonding and subsequent parenting stress

Lauren M. Francis; George J. Youssef; George J. Youssef; Christopher J. Greenwood; Christopher J. Greenwood; Peter G. Enticott; Ashlee Curtis; Liam G. Graeme; Kayla A. Mansour; Craig A. Olsson; Craig A. Olsson; Craig A. Olsson; Helen Skouteris; Helen Skouteris; Jeannette Milgrom; Jeannette Milgrom; Joanne Williams; Joanne Williams; Tess Knight; Jacqui A. Macdonald; Jacqui A. Macdonald; Jacqui A. Macdonald

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1114084

Frontiers in Psychology (Mar 2023)

Father trait anger: Associations with father–infant bonding and subsequent parenting stress

Lauren M. Francis,
George J. Youssef,
George J. Youssef,
Christopher J. Greenwood,
Christopher J. Greenwood,
Peter G. Enticott,
Ashlee Curtis,
Liam G. Graeme,
Kayla A. Mansour,
Craig A. Olsson,
Craig A. Olsson,
Craig A. Olsson,
Helen Skouteris,
Helen Skouteris,
Jeannette Milgrom,
Jeannette Milgrom,
Joanne Williams,
Joanne Williams,
Tess Knight,
Jacqui A. Macdonald,
Jacqui A. Macdonald,
Jacqui A. Macdonald

Affiliations

Lauren M. Francis: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
George J. Youssef: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
George J. Youssef: Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Christopher J. Greenwood: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Christopher J. Greenwood: Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Peter G. Enticott: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Ashlee Curtis: Centre for Drug Use, Addictive and Anti-social Behaviour Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Liam G. Graeme: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Kayla A. Mansour: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Craig A. Olsson: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Craig A. Olsson: Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Craig A. Olsson: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Helen Skouteris: Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Helen Skouteris: Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry, United Kingdom
Jeannette Milgrom: Parent-Infant Research Institute, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
Jeannette Milgrom: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Joanne Williams: Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
Joanne Williams: 0School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University Faculty of Health, Burwood, VIC, Australia
Tess Knight: 1Cairnmillar Institute, Hawthorn East, VIC, Australia
Jacqui A. Macdonald: Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Jacqui A. Macdonald: Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Jacqui A. Macdonald: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1114084
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionParent anger presents a risk to family safety and child development. Father trait anger may also compromise the early relational context of fathers and offspring, yet evidence is lacking. The aim of this study is to examine effects of father trait anger on parenting stress in the toddler years, and the mediational role of father–infant bonding.MethodData were from 177 Australian fathers of 205 children. Trait anger (total, angry temperament, and angry reaction), father–infant bonding subscales (patience and tolerance, affection and pride, and pleasure in interaction), and subsequent parenting stress (parental distress, difficult child, and parent–child dysfunctional interaction) were assessed. At each of the subscale levels, mediational path models examined whether father–infant bonding explained the relationship between trait anger and parenting stress. Models were presented where there was at least a small association between the mediator and both the predictor and outcome.ResultsPatience and tolerance was the only domain of father–infant bonding correlated with both trait anger and all parenting stress outcomes. Patience and tolerance partially mediated the effect of total trait anger on parental distress and fully mediated effects on difficult child and parent–child dysfunctional interaction. Patience and tolerance fully mediated relationships between angry temperament and all domains of parenting stress. Angry reactions only had a direct effect on parental distress.DiscussionFather trait anger both directly and indirectly (through patience and tolerance in the father–infant bond) impacts their experiences of parenting stress in the toddler years. Early interventions to manage father trait anger and improve father–infant bonding may benefit fathers and children.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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