Fathers in Turkey: Paternity characteristics, gender role, communication skills

Abstract

Objective of this study is to examine the correlation the quality of paternity, gender roles and communication skills of fathers. The scores in the scale of supporting developmental tasks were used in order to determine the quality of paternity. The other data collection tools were the BEM sex role ınventory and the communication skills ınventory. The study included a multiple regression analysis for predicting the quality of paternity. The multiple regression analysis suggested that the scores in the "behavioral", "emotional" and "cognitive" sub-dimensions of the communication skills inventory and those in the "femininity" and "masculinity" sub-scales of the BEM sex role inventory can account for the scores in the scale of supporting developmental tasks at a rate of 31%. It was concluded that those fathers who display feminine traits and those who communicate with their children through an "emotional" or "behavioral" communication language support their children's process of development in a more effective way. Ke ywords: Family, the quality of paternity, sex role, communication skills.