Stresses and mental health of fathers with younger children in Hong Kong: Implications for social work practices

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the sources of parenting stress and the mental health of fathers with kindergarten and primary-school children in Hong Kong. It examined the intervening effects of parenting self-efficacy on the mental health of fathers. Results suggested that fathers who perceived their children as more demanding, less acceptable, less adaptable and less reinforcing had more parenting stress, as well as those fathers with lower educational levels and less family income. Parenting self-efficacy moderated the effects of parenting stress on the mental health of fathers. Cultural and social factors were advanced to explain these findings. Suggestions were made about organizing parenting skills training programmes and reducing parenting stress of these fathers.