2011/04/01 by Dana K. Harmon, Armon R. Perry · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Family Dynamics and Relationships #Family Support in Illness #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
paper · doi:10.1606/1044-3894.4101
openalex publication_date 2011/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Mothers are often children's primary caregivers. Fathers have historically been viewed as marginally involved, leaving mothers with a disproportionate share of parenting responsibilities and stress. Although more researchers are examining fathers' roles and behavior within the family, relatively little is known about how their involvement impacts mothers' parenting stress. This study investigated the ways in which fathers' contributions and mothers' perception of them affect maternal parenting stress. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, hierarchical regression analysis revealed that in addition to mothers' and children's characteristics, the level of perceived emotional parenting support that fathers provided to mothers predicted maternal parenting stress. Implications for family practitioners working with low-income and minority populations are included.