The Relation between Father’s Perception of Parenthood and Gender Role in Adolescent Boys: Attachment to Father as a Mediator

Fathers’ style of training adolescent boys is connected to their gender role; however, the quality and mechanism of the relationship between fathers' parenting style and gender role of adolescent boys is not clear yet. The present study explores a model which assumes that attachment to the father may mediate the relationship between father's perception of parenthood and gender role of adolescent boys. In this study, adolescent male students (n = 376)_selected based on cluster sampling_  completed questionnaires on the Parenting Bonding Instrument , Bam Gender Role, and Parent-Peer Attachment. Data were analyzed based on a descriptive-correlation method employing multiple regression and structural equation model finding, as well. The findings indicated that father's perception of parenthood has a direct impact on boys’ gender role and can help their masculinity; but it has no connection with the femininity in boys. Furthermore, attachment to the father is regarded as the mediator in the relationship between father's perception of parenthood and the gender role of masculinity in boys. According to these findings, in conjunction with parenting style, attachment to the father can contribute to shape their masculine gender by creating an emotional bond between adolescent boys and fathers.