List of Titles

Getting into the “Dad Zone” : how do primary caregiving fathers of young children experience social support?

- Gill, Peter, Scacco, Sarina, De Haan, Sarah, Gent, Angela, Chapin, Laurie, Ganci, Michael, Morda, Romana

Authors: Gill, Peter , Scacco, Sarina , De Haan, Sarah , Gent, Angela , Chapin, Laurie , Ganci, Michael , Morda, Romana
Date: 2021
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Child and Family Studies Vol. 30, no. 4 (2021), p. 1028-1042
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Description: Primary caregiving fathers (PCGFs) are a growing population that experience unique struggles on a day-to-day basis. The current study aimed to explore how fathers interpret and experience their daily responsibilities and interactions with social support, as they undertake their roles as primary caregivers. Using grounded theory, 14 PCGFs defined as those providing sole care for their 1–10 year olds for at least 25 h per week, participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences of fatherhood and social supports. Participants highlighted the ways in which social support, particularly adult companionship, helped them find a social balance and allowed them to re-energise and be better fathers. In particular, the men reported that interaction with people with similar experiences was important in helping them to discursively negotiate their non-traditional roles. Analysis revealed a three-stage identity transition process where the men initially took on primary responsibility, then began to embody the primary care giver role, and finally transitioned to a new normal. The PCGFs in the study provide evidence that we may be observing a shift from what may be classed as outdated notions of one-dimensional fathering to a more well-informed masculine ideal that embraces caring and nurturing qualities. However, providing further avenues of support for PCFGs is important in order to mitigate possible social isolation and to enhance their wellbeing. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.

Attitudinal barriers to help-seeking and preferences for mental health support among Australian fathers

- Giallo, Rebecca, Dunning, Melissa, Gent, Angela

Authors: Giallo, Rebecca , Dunning, Melissa , Gent, Angela
Date: 2017
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology Vol. 35, no. 3 (2017), p. 236-247
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Description: Objective: To (a) identify attitudinal barriers to help-seeking for mental health difficulties among fathers of young children; (b) explore the relationships between perceived barriers to help-seeking and mental health difficulties (i.e. depressive, anxiety, stress symptoms); (c) identify socio-demographic factors associated with barriers to help-seeking; and (d) identify fathers’ preferences for mental health support. Background: One in 10 Australian fathers experience mental health difficulties in the early parenting period. Low rates of help-seeking and under-utilisation of health care services are key issues for the provision of mental health support to fathers at this important life stage. Method: The sample consisted of 154 fathers of young children (aged 0–8 years) participating in an Australian online survey on parent wellbeing and parenting. The Barriers to Help-Seeking Scale assessed fathers’ attitudinal barriers to help-seeking for mental health support. Socio-demographic factors related to fathers’ employment, education, and family composition were assessed. Results: The most common attitudinal barriers to help-seeking were: (a) the need for control and self-reliance in managing one’s own problems, (b) a tendency to downplay or minimise problems, and (c) a sense of resignation that nothing will help. A range of demographic (i.e. age, educational attainment) factors were associated with these barriers. The most common preferences for support were internet-based information resources, followed by support provided by general practitioners and maternal child health nurses. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for health promotion, health services and clinical approaches to promoting the health and wellbeing of fathers. © 2017 Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology.

Maternal fatigue, parenting self-efficacy, and overreactive discipline during the early childhood years: A test of a mediation model

- Lesniowska, Raelene, Gent, Angela, Watson, Shaun

Authors: Lesniowska, Raelene , Gent, Angela , Watson, Shaun
Date: 2015
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Clinical Psychologist Vol. , no. (2015), p.
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Description: Fatigue is common among mothers of infants and young children and associated with a range of negative parenting outcomes. Little is understood, however, about the mechanisms by which fatigue may impact on parenting, particularly among mothers beyond 12 months post-partum. This study investigated the relationship between maternal fatigue and overreactive discipline, and whether parenting self-efficacy mediates this relationship. Methods: Participants were 252 Australian mothers of 1-4 years old children. Levels of fatigue, parenting self-efficacy, and overreactive discipline were recorded via a self-report questionnaire. Results: A simple mediation model analysis provided support for the direct effect of fatigue on overreactive discipline, as well as the mediation of this relationship by parenting self-efficacy. Conclusions: These findings suggest fatigue may contribute to overreactive discipline in mothers of young children via two pathways: directly, and indirectly via parenting self-efficacy. Interventions that support mothers to manage fatigue and maintain a sense of parenting self-efficacy while facing ongoing exhaustion may promote the use of more effective and less adverse discipline responses with children.

The fatigue and depressive symptom relationship in mothers of young children : The moderating role of mindfulness

- Riley, Kym, Gent, Angela, McLaren, Suzanne, Caunt, Jeremy, Stavropoulos, Vasileios

Authors: Riley, Kym , Gent, Angela , McLaren, Suzanne , Caunt, Jeremy , Stavropoulos, Vasileios
Date: 2018
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Mindfulness Vol. 9, no. 6 (2018), p. 1955-1965
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Description: Previous studies have demonstrated that fatigue is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in mothers of young children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the five facets of mindfulness moderated the relationship between fatigue and depressive symptoms in mothers of young children. A sample of 723 mothers of children aged 1–5 years completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form. Results showed that four out of the five mindfulness facets (non-judging of inner experience, non-reactivity to inner experience, acting with awareness, and describing) weakened the relationship between fatigue and depressive symptoms. Interaction effects were found to be small. Further investigation of the unique roles of the five mindfulness facets as well as other possible protective factors and interventions that may weaken the fatigue-depressive symptom relationship in mothers of young children is warranted.

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