Beliefs about the role of the father in a sample of Portuguese men: Implications for a positive parenting

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze, from father's perspective, predictors of parenting quality, especially his beliefs about the role of the father and sociodemographic variables such as age, education and work. Participants were 207 men, from nuclear families, with children attending pre-school (105 boys). Results showed positive and significant associations between father's education, beliefs about the role of the father and positive parenting; and a negative association between his age and beliefs, and father's beliefs and negative parenting. For positive parenting father's beliefs was the only significant predictor, plus an interaction effect between beliefs and education was found. Our results suggest the importance of considering the way the father understands and constructs his role, when delineating programs aiming to promote father involvement.