Analysis of the Structural Model of Gender Role Perception, Depression, Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, and Work-Parenting Conflict of Fathers with Young Children

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural relationship between gender role perception, depression, and attitudes toward seeking professional help that affect fathers' work-parenting conflict. Methods Test was conducted to measure variables related to work-parenting conflict on 313 fathers of infants and toddlers living in the metropolitan area. The causal relationship between variables was verified using the structural equation model, and phantom variable analysis was performed to verify specific indirect effects. Results It was found that the lower the awareness of the gender role of father, the higher the depression, which lowers the father's attitude toward professional help and ultimately increases the father's work-parenting conflict. Conclusions It is necessary to develop parent education and various social support services through understanding the impact of fathers' gender role awareness, depression, and professional help-seeking attitude on work-parenting conflict.