The impact of fathers’ gender perspectives and involvement on children’s resilience

The aim of this study is twofold; to answer the question of whether gender notions are predictors of father involvement, and to investigate whether involved fathers who have egalitarian notions raise more resilient children. Fathers of children aged 5–6 years (n = 377) answered questions about their gender role attitudes, their level of father involvement and their children’s resilience. The data analysis has shown weak significant associations between the dyads of egalitarian views- father involvement, father involvement-child resiliency and egalitarian views-child resiliency. Besides, a higher level of gender egalitarian view predicted a higher level of father involvement; and higher father involvement predicted a higher level of child psychological resiliency. However, including gender views in the dyad of father involvement and resilience made no significant effect. In conclusion, attitudes towards gender roles still effect fathers’ choices about being involved in their children’s lives and father involvement is an important agent supporting resilience.