The purpose of this study was to examine the role of family cohesion, adaptability, and paternal self-efficacy in psychological well-being of fathers of children with and without disabilities and whether the effects of these variables on psychological well-being were the same for both groups of fathers. In addition, the potential differences in perceived well-being between the two groups of fathers were examined. Sixty-three fathers of children with disabilities and 217 fathers of typically developing children participated in this study. Fathers of children with disabilities scored significantly higher on the self-acceptance dimension of psychological well-being compared with fathers of children without disabilities. After controlling for the demographic factors, family cohesion and paternal self-efficacy significantly and positively predicted well-being of fathers; the effects of these variables on well-being were the same for both groups of fathers.
Amato, P.R., & Rivera, F. ( 1999). Paternal involvement and children’s behavior problems . Journal of Marriage and Family, 61, 375-384.
2.
Bandura, A. ( 1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.
3.
Barlow, J.H., Cullen-Powell, L.A., & Cheshire, A. ( 2006). Psychological well-being among mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Early Child Development and Care, 176, 421-428.
4.
Beavers, W., & Hampson, R. ( 1990). Successful families: Assessment and intervention . New York, NY: Norton.
5.
Behr, S., Murphy, D., & Summers, J. ( 1992). Users manual: Kansas Inventory of Parental Perceptions (KIPP). Lawrence: University of Kansas, Beach Center on Families and Disability.
6.
Beitel, A., & Parke, R. ( 1998). Parental involvement in infancy: The role of maternal and paternal attitudes. Journal of Family Psychology, 12, 268-288.
7.
Benderix, Y., Nordström, B., & Sivberg, B. ( 2006). Parents’ experience of having a child with autism and learning disabilities living in a group home. Autism, 10, 629-641.
8.
Boothroyd, R.A., & Evans, M.E. ( 1996). Preliminary manual for the Parent Self-Efficacy Scale . Albany: New York State Office of Mental Health, Bureau of Evaluation and Services Research.
9.
Boyraz, G., & Sayger, T.V. ( 2009). A path analysis of the factors contributing to life satisfaction in fathers. Journal of Positive Psychology , 4, 145-154.
10.
Coleman, P.K., & Karraker, K.H. (1997). Self-efficacy and parenting quality: Findings and future applications. Developmental Review , 18, 47-85.
11.
Crnic, K.A., Friedrich, W.N., & Greenberg, M.T. (1983). Adaptation of families with mentally retarded children: A model of stress, coping and family ecology . American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 88, 125-138.
12.
Dickman, I., & Gordon, S. ( 1985). One miracle at a time: How to get help for your disabled child-From the experience of other parents. New York, NY : Simon & Schuster.
13.
Diener, E. ( 1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542-575.
14.
Dyson, L.L. ( 1997). Fathers and mothers of school aged children with developmental disabilities: Parental stress, family functioning, and social support. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 102, 267-279.
15.
Eggebeen, D.J., & Knoester, C. ( 2001). Does fatherhood matter for men? Journal of Marriage and Family, 63, 381-393.
16.
Feldman, M.A., Legér, M., & Walton-Allen, N. (1997). Stress in mothers with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Child and Family Studies , 6, 471-485.
17.
Fisman, S., Wolf, L., Ellison, D., & Freeman, T. ( 2000). A longitudinal study of siblings of children with chronic disabilities. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 369-375.
18.
Flouri, E., & Buchanan, A. ( 2003). The role of father involvement and mother involvement in adolescents’ psychological well-being. British Journal of Social Work, 33, 399-406.
19.
Fortier, L.M., & Wanlass, R.L. (1984). Family crisis following the diagnosis of a handicapped child. Family Relations, 33, 13-24.
20.
Frazier, P.A., Tix, A.P., & Barron, K. ( 2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 115-134.
21.
Friedman, L.C., Baer, P.E., Nelson, D.V., Lane, M., Smith, F.E., & Dworkin, R.J. (1988). Women with breast cancer: Perception of family functioning and adjustment to illness. Psychosomatic Medicine , 50, 529-540.
22.
Hastings, R., & Brown, T. ( 2002). Behaviour problems of children with autism, parental self-efficacy, and mental health. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 10, 222-232.
23.
Holroyd, J., & McArthur, D. ( 1976). Mental retardation and stress on the parents: A contrast between Down’s syndrome and childhood autism. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 80, 431-436.
24.
Hogue, A., Dauber, S., Samuolis, J., & Liddle, H.A. ( 2006). Treatment techniques and outcomes in multidimensional family therapy for adolescent behavior problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 535-543.
25.
Huang, C.C., & Warner, L.A. ( 2005). Relationship characteristics & depression among fathers with newborns. Social Service Review, 79, 95-118.
26.
Jones, T.L., & Printz, R.J. ( 2005). Potential roles of parental self-efficacy in parent and child adjustment: A review. Clinical Psychology Review , 25, 341-363.
27.
Kalmijm, M. ( 1999). Father involvement in childrearing and the perceived stability of marriage. Journal of Marriage & Family, 61, 409-421.
28.
Krauss, M.W. ( 1993). Child-related and parenting stress: Similarities and differences between mothers and fathers of children with disabilities . American Journal of Mental Retardation, 97, 393-404.
29.
Lyubomirski, S., King, L., & Diener, E. ( 2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803-855.
30.
McCubbin, H.I. ( 1979). Integrating coping behavior in family stress theory . Journal of Marriage and Family, 41, 237-244.
31.
McCubbin, M., & McCubbin, H. ( 1996). Resiliency in families: A conceptual model of family and adjustment and adaptation in response to stress and crises. In H. McCubbin, A. Thompson , & M. McCubbin (Eds.), Family assessment: Resiliency, coping and adaptation- Inventories for research and practice (pp. 1-63). Madison: University of Wisconsin System.
32.
McCubbin, H.I., & Patterson, J.M. (1982). Family adaptation to crisis . In H. I. McCubbin, A. E. Cauble, & J. M. Patterson (Eds.), Family stress, coping and social support (pp. 26-47). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
33.
McClelland, G.H., & Judd, C.M. ( 1993). Statistical difficulties of detecting interactions and moderator effects. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 376-390.
34.
McKernon, W.L., Holmbeck, G.N., Colder, C.R., Hommeyer, J.S., Shapera, W., & Westhoven, V. ( 2001). Longitudinal study of observed and perceived family influences on problem-focused coping behaviors of preadolescents with spina bifida. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 26, 41-54.
35.
McKlnney, B., & Peterson, R.A. (1987). Predictors of stress in parents of developmentally disabled children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12, 133-150.
36.
Naseef, R.A. ( 1997). Special children, challenged parents: The struggles and rewards of raising a child with a disability. Secaucus, NJ: Carol.
37.
Olson, D.H., Portner, J., & Lavee, Y. ( 1985). Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-third edition (FACES-III) manual. Minneapolis: Family Social Science, University of Minnesota.
38.
Olsson, M.B., & Hwang, C.P. ( 2001). Depression in mothers and fathers of children with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 535-543.
39.
Östberg, M., & Hagekull, B. ( 2000). A structural modeling approach to the understanding of parenting stress. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology , 29, 615-625.
40.
Pakenham, K., Sofronoff, K., & Samios, C. ( 2004). Finding meaning in parenting a child with Asperger syndrome: Correlates of sense making and benefit finding. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 245-264.
41.
Patterson, J.M. ( 2002). Understanding family resilience. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 233-246.
42.
Pleck, J.H. ( 1997). Paternal involvement: Levels, origins, and consequences . In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (3rd ed., pp. 66-103). New York, NY: Wiley .
43.
Pleck, J.H. ( 2007). Why could father involvement benefit children? Theoretical perspectives. Applied Developmental Science, 11, 1-7.
44.
Ryff, C.D. ( 1989). Scales of Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069-1081.
45.
Ryff, C.D., & Keyes, C.L. ( 1995). The structure of Psychological Well-Being revisited . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719-727.
46.
Scorgie, K., & Sobsey, D. ( 2000). Transformational outcomes associated with parenting children who have disabilities. Mental Retardation, 38, 195-206.
47.
Seltzer, M.M., Greenberg, J.S., Floyd, F.J., Pettee, Y., & Hong, J. ( 2001). Life course impacts of parenting a child with a disability . American Journal on Mental Retardation, 106, 282-303.
48.
Sivberg, B. ( 2002). Family systems and coping behaviors. A comparison between parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders and parents with non-autistic children. Autism, 6, 397-409.
49.
Spector, A. ( 2006). Fatherhood and depression: A review of risks, effects, and clinical application. Issues in Mental Health Nursing , 27, 867-883.
50.
Tedeschi, R.G., & Calhoun, L.G. (1995). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage.
51.
Umberson, D. ( 1989). Relationships with children: Explaining parents’ psychological well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 51, 999-1012.
52.
Walsh, F. ( 1998). Strengthening family resilience. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
53.
Walsh, F. ( 2003). Family resilience: A framework for clinical practice (Theory and Practice). Family Process, 42, 1-18.
54.
Walsh, F., & Olson, D.H. ( 1989). Utility of the circumplex model with severely dysfunctional family systems. In D. Olson , C. S. Russell, & D. H. Sprenkle (Eds.), Circumplex model: Systemic assessment and treatment of families (2nd ed., pp. 51-78). New York, NY: Haworth.
