Leiden University Student Repository

Bles, Simone (2026)

Vaderlijke opvoedstress bij een verleden van kindermishandeling: Een kwantitatieve studie naar de modererende rol van de co-ouderschapsrelatie en relatiekwaliteit in de samenhang tussen jeugdtrauma en huidige opvoedstress van vaders

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Excessive levels of parenting stress in the postnatal period can negatively affect both parents and their children. One factor that may contribute to parenting stress is a history of child maltreatment. At the same time, positive relational factors with the partner may buffer the impact of such adverse childhood experiences on parenting stress. Despite the importance of paternal involvement, fathers remain underrepresented in research on these topics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether fathers with a history of child maltreatment experience increased postnatal parenting stress. Maltreatment was divided into neglect and abuse. Furthermore, the study examined whether co-parenting and partner relationship quality moderates the associations between these two forms of maltreatment and paternal parenting stress. A survey was conducted among first-time Dutch fathers (N = 222), each with a child under three years old. Two simple regression analyses revealed...Show moreExcessive levels of parenting stress in the postnatal period can negatively affect both parents and their children. One factor that may contribute to parenting stress is a history of child maltreatment. At the same time, positive relational factors with the partner may buffer the impact of such adverse childhood experiences on parenting stress. Despite the importance of paternal involvement, fathers remain underrepresented in research on these topics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether fathers with a history of child maltreatment experience increased postnatal parenting stress. Maltreatment was divided into neglect and abuse. Furthermore, the study examined whether co-parenting and partner relationship quality moderates the associations between these two forms of maltreatment and paternal parenting stress. A survey was conducted among first-time Dutch fathers (N = 222), each with a child under three years old. Two simple regression analyses revealed no significant direct associations between a neglect or abuse history and parenting stress. In addition, four hierarchical regression models indicated that both co-parenting relationship and partner relationship quality were directly related to parenting stress but did not moderate the association between a history of child neglect or abuse and parenting stress. These findings suggest that the (co-parenting)partner relationship does not serve as a buffer. Factors beyond a history of maltreatment may play a stronger role, and future research should examine additional moderators. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the scarce body of research on fathers, and interventions should focus on strengthening the relationship between parents to reduce parenting stress.Show less

Author

Bles, Simone

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Forensische Gezinspedagogiek

Supervisors

Ghoerbien, K.V.A.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl