Dispositional Mindfulness and Mindful Parenting in Fathers: Associations with Child Behavioral Problems

Abstract Objectives Over the last decades, research has demonstrated that fathers’ parenting behaviors can make a significant and positive contribution to their children’s development. The aim of the present study was to examine potential associations between paternal dispositional mindfulness and preschool children’s behavioral problems, both directly and indirectly via fathers’ mindful parenting. Method A total of 96 fathers ( M age = 35.03, SD age = 5.40) completed online questionnaires on their dispositional mindfulness and mindful parenting when their child was approximately 4 years of age, and child behavioral problems were rated by both parents. Results Analyses revealed significant indirect effects. Fathers with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness reported more mindful parenting and in turn fewer internalizing and externalizing problem behavior in their children and, more specifically, less emotionally reactive behavior, less withdrawn behavior, fewer attention problems, and less aggressive behavior. Paternal dispositional mindfulness was also indirectly related to internalizing problem behavior of the child as rated by the mother through fathers’ mindful parenting. All results were adjusted for the effects of paternal age, paternal education, parity, and child sex on the dependent variable. Conclusions The findings suggests that paternal dispositional mindfulness may indirectly be important for behavioral development in early childhood via mindful parenting and that perhaps, this is particularly pertinent for children’s internalizing behaviors. Future research could examine whether including fathers in mindfulness or mindful parenting interventions may be beneficial for behavioral outcomes in early childhood. Preregistration. This study is not preregistered.