Mental Models for Parenting: Correlates of Metaparenting among Fathers of Young Children

The present study explored the antecedents and correlates of metaparenting, defined as mental plans for parenting across five subscales: responding, preventing, monitoring, mentoring, and modeling. Cross sectional data on a diverse sample of 74 fathers were drawn from a larger longitudinal project that interviewed men four times over the first two years of their children’s lives. A structural equation model revealed that fathers’ reports of positive parenting role models and intelligence were found to be related to working models of parenting as measured by the five components of metaparenting. Most importantly, higher levels of metaparenting were associated with authoritative parenting and less abuse potential. Results provided preliminary evidence for the importance of a mental model of parenting among fathers.