Fathers’ Emotional Awareness and Testosterone Linked to Children’s Prosocial Behavior

Source: http://www.psypost.org

A study published in Hormones and Behavior reveals that fathers with more pronounced alexithymia, difficulty identifying and expressing emotions, before their child’s birth tend to provide lower-quality parental care.

The study followed 105 expectant fathers, assessing their alexithymia, a condition characterized by difficulty recognizing and expressing emotions before their child was born. Researchers examined how this trait influenced parenting quality when the baby was three months old and how it affected the child’s prosocial behavior by the age of two.

The findings suggest that fathers with higher levels of alexithymia provided lower-quality parental care during the early months of their child’s life. By the time the child reached two years old, they exhibited fewer prosocial behaviors, such as helping, sharing, and showing empathy.

However, this effect was particularly evident in fathers who experienced a significant increase in testosterone levels when subjected to a stressful parenting simulation known as the Inconsolable Doll task. This task involved attempting to soothe a computerized infant simulator that was programmed to cry persistently for extended periods.

Researchers also explored the role of co-parenting quality, examining how well parents worked together to care for their child. Their analysis suggested that fathers with more pronounced alexithymia struggled with cooperative parenting, which in turn contributed to lower prosocial behavior in their children.

Read more of the story here: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/fathers-emotional-awareness-and-testosterone-linked-to-childrens-prosocial-behavior/

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