Paternal affection and masculinity predict parenting self-efficacy among fathers

Parenting self-efficacy, individual beliefs regarding parenting skills, has far-reaching consequences for family well-being and child development. Yet how parenting self-efficacy unfolds in men remains largely unknown. Here, we focus on two important social factors that may influence parenting self-efficacy: men’s recollection of affection received from their own father, and men’s values regarding traditional masculinity. Using nationally representative data from Australian men (N = 7,901), we found that recalled paternal affection was significantly associated with greater parenting self-efficacy. Masculine norms relating to ‘winning’ and ‘risk taking’ were positively associated with greater parenting efficacy, while ‘emotional control’, ‘violence’, ‘playboy’, and ‘power over women’ were associated with lower parenting self-efficacy. To enhance their parenting self-efficacy, men may require additional support to normalise and reinforce changing expectations of fathers and which provides a foundation for their own children’s parenting.