Father Involvement and Adolescents’ Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors: Maternal Depressive Symptom as a Mediator and Maternal Social Support as a Moderator

A significant ambiguity remains regarding whether maternal depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between father involvement and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing behaviors, particularly within Ethiopia’s patriarchal cultural context. Addressing this research gap, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of maternal depressive symptoms in the association between father involvement and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing behaviors, as well as the moderating influence of maternal social support on this mediation pathway. The study utilized data from a sample of 404 adolescents (Mage = 15.81 ± 0.71; 51.7% male). Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that maternal depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between father involvement and adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Additionally, maternal social support significantly moderated the role of father involvement on maternal depressive symptoms and the role of maternal depressive symptoms on adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing behaviors.