The mediating role of paternal depressive symptoms on the association between social support and family factors
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Abstract
Fathers experience more depressive symptoms than non-fathers. However, little is known about how fathers’ depressive symptoms affect the relationship between perceived social support and coparenting quality or perceived social support and parenting stress. This study aimed to explore the relationship between social support, paternal depressive symptoms, coparenting quality, and parenting stress. Additionally, it looked at this relationship at different child developmental stages and from different sources of social support. Participants were recruited through parenting organizations, programs, and support groups across Canada and the United States. Ninety-five fathers of typically developing children, aged 2-11 years old, completed an online survey. Moderated mediation analyses, using Hayes’ PROCESS macro, determined non-significant indirect effects of paternal social support on both coparenting quality and parenting stress through paternal depressive symptoms while child stage served as a moderator variable. Several significant indirect effects were identified when child stage was not considered. The findings have several societal, research, and clinical implications to improve family functioning.