Paternal Affection, Masculinity, and Fathers’ Parenting Self-Efficacy: Findings From an Australian Cohort Study

Parenting self-efficacy refers to the confidence that parents have in their ability to successfully promote children’s development and to overcome parenting challenges. Yet how parenting self-efficacy unfolds in men remains largely unknown. Developmental ecological models of fathering suggest that fathers’ parenting beliefs, such as parenting self-efficacy, develop through a complex interaction of factors. In the present study, we examine two important individual factors that may influence parenting self-efficacy: men’s recollection of affection received from their own father and men’s cultural values regarding traditional masculinity. Data were obtained from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men), Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the adult age group ( N = 7,901). After adjustment for covariates and prior depression, we found that higher levels of recalled paternal affection were significantly associated with greater parenting self-efficacy. Masculine norms relating to ‘winning’ and ‘risk taking’ were positively associated with greater parenting efficacy, while ‘emotional control,’ ‘violence,’ ‘playboy,’ and ‘power over women’ were associated with lower parenting self-efficacy. Our findings suggest that fathers’ affection has long-term consequences for their children’s future parenting self-efficacy. To enhance their parenting self-efficacy, some men may benefit from support that challenges the idealisation of masculine dominance while reinforcing evolving expectations of fathers.