Leiden University Student Repository

Wiekhart, Rosanna (2024)

De relatie tussen een verleden van kindermishandeling bij vaders en de partnerrelatie: mediatie van opvoedstress?

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Although the well-documented vulnerability of parents with childhood trauma to relationship difficulties and parenting stress during the perinatal period, existing studies have primarily focused on mothers and have not differentiated between various types of childhood trauma (Chamberlain et al., 2019; Prachason et al., 2023). This study aims to address these gaps by investigating the impact of a history of emotional abuse or emotional neglect on the quality of partner relationships among fathers. Additionally, this study examined whether parenting stress mediates this relationship while correcting for cultural background, socio-economic status (SES), and psychological problems of the fathers. It was hypothesized that a history of emotional abuse and emotional neglect in fathers would be associated with lower quality partner relationships, and that parenting stress would mediate this relationship. A sample of 191 fathers, recruited through voluntary response sampling, completed the...Show moreAlthough the well-documented vulnerability of parents with childhood trauma to relationship difficulties and parenting stress during the perinatal period, existing studies have primarily focused on mothers and have not differentiated between various types of childhood trauma (Chamberlain et al., 2019; Prachason et al., 2023). This study aims to address these gaps by investigating the impact of a history of emotional abuse or emotional neglect on the quality of partner relationships among fathers. Additionally, this study examined whether parenting stress mediates this relationship while correcting for cultural background, socio-economic status (SES), and psychological problems of the fathers. It was hypothesized that a history of emotional abuse and emotional neglect in fathers would be associated with lower quality partner relationships, and that parenting stress would mediate this relationship. A sample of 191 fathers, recruited through voluntary response sampling, completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire- Short Form, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale-7, and the Parental Stress Scale to assess experiences of emotional abuse or neglect, the quality of the partner relationship, and parenting stress, respectively. Regression analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between emotional neglect and partner relationship quality, as well as between parenting stress and partner relationship quality. No significant effects were observed for other variables. Furthermore, parenting stress did not mediate the relationship in either model. In summary, the findings indicate that fathers with a history of emotional neglect and fathers with parenting stress experience diminished quality in their partner relationships. Given that partner relationship quality influences the well-being of fathers and affects child development, it is essential to provide support for fathers with a history of emotional neglect (Christie et al., 2017). By incorporating insights from follow-up research into effective interventions, the well-being of both fathers and their children can be enhanced.Show less

fathers

emotional abuse

emotional neglect

parenting stress

partner relationship

Author

Wiekhart, Rosanna

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

Bos, P.A.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl