Male Pregnancy Intendedness and Children's Mental Proficiency and Attachment Security During Toddlerhood

Authors: Bronte-Tinkew, Jacinta; Scott, MindyE.; Horowitz, Allison

Source: Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 71, Number 4, November 2009 , pp. 1001-1025(25)

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Abstract:

Using a sample of biological resident fathers and their children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9- and 24-month surveys (N = 5,300), this study examines associations and the direct and indirect pathways through which men's pregnancy intentions influence toddlers' mental proficiency and attachment security. Findings indicate that unwanted and mistimed pregnancies for fathers had negative consequences for toddlers' mental proficiency and attachment security. Additionally, men's pregnancy intentions were found to work indirectly through lower prenatal behaviors and father engagement and greater mother-father relationship conflict to negatively influence toddlers' mental proficiency. Men's pregnancy intentions also worked indirectly through greater relationship conflict and higher father involvement to influence attachment security.

Keywords: development or outcomes; early childhood; father-child relations; pregnancy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00649.x

Affiliations: 1: Child Trends

Publication date: 2009-11-01