Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness
ObjectiveThe capacity to interact with peers during early childhood can profoundly and enduringly influence later development and adaptation. Previous research has indicated that paternal involvement plays a vital role in shaping children’s peer competence. However, limited research has been conduct...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477432/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849344644300668928 |
|---|---|
| author | Chunyan Liang Xinwen Bi |
| author_facet | Chunyan Liang Xinwen Bi |
| author_sort | Chunyan Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThe capacity to interact with peers during early childhood can profoundly and enduringly influence later development and adaptation. Previous research has indicated that paternal involvement plays a vital role in shaping children’s peer competence. However, limited research has been conducted on this association within the Chinese cultural contexts or on the potential mechanisms that underlie it. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a close link between paternal involvement and peer competence in Chinese young children, as well as whether children’s playfulness mediates this relationship.MethodThe Chinese version of the Paternal Involvement Questionnaire (FIQ) was distributed to 359 fathers with children (4–6 years old). Children’s Playfulness Scale (CPS) and Ability to Associate With Partners Scale (AAPS) were distributed to the children’s mothers.Results(1) There are positive correlations between paternal involvement, young children’s playfulness and peer competence after controlling for the demographic variables of age and gender. (2) Paternal involvement is positively related to young children’s peer competence. (3) Playfulness partially mediated the relationship between paternal involvement and children’s peer competence. Findings from this study emphasize the significance of paternal involvement in enhancing young children’s peer competence, while also highlighting the value of positive emotional traits such as playfulness for fostering family interaction and promoting young child development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c0afb9d25254caba597caca8b51bf54 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c0afb9d25254caba597caca8b51bf542025-08-20T03:42:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-03-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14774321477432Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulnessChunyan LiangXinwen BiObjectiveThe capacity to interact with peers during early childhood can profoundly and enduringly influence later development and adaptation. Previous research has indicated that paternal involvement plays a vital role in shaping children’s peer competence. However, limited research has been conducted on this association within the Chinese cultural contexts or on the potential mechanisms that underlie it. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a close link between paternal involvement and peer competence in Chinese young children, as well as whether children’s playfulness mediates this relationship.MethodThe Chinese version of the Paternal Involvement Questionnaire (FIQ) was distributed to 359 fathers with children (4–6 years old). Children’s Playfulness Scale (CPS) and Ability to Associate With Partners Scale (AAPS) were distributed to the children’s mothers.Results(1) There are positive correlations between paternal involvement, young children’s playfulness and peer competence after controlling for the demographic variables of age and gender. (2) Paternal involvement is positively related to young children’s peer competence. (3) Playfulness partially mediated the relationship between paternal involvement and children’s peer competence. Findings from this study emphasize the significance of paternal involvement in enhancing young children’s peer competence, while also highlighting the value of positive emotional traits such as playfulness for fostering family interaction and promoting young child development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477432/fullpaternal involvementyoung childrenplayfulnesspeer competenceChinese context |
| spellingShingle | Chunyan Liang Xinwen Bi Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness Frontiers in Psychology paternal involvement young children playfulness peer competence Chinese context |
| title | Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness |
| title_full | Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness |
| title_fullStr | Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness |
| title_short | Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness |
| title_sort | paternal involvement and peer competence in young children the mediating role of playfulness |
| topic | paternal involvement young children playfulness peer competence Chinese context |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477432/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chunyanliang paternalinvolvementandpeercompetenceinyoungchildrenthemediatingroleofplayfulness AT xinwenbi paternalinvolvementandpeercompetenceinyoungchildrenthemediatingroleofplayfulness |