Fathers’ Self-Compassion and Child Attachment Quality: Testing a Sequential Indirect Effect via Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Loneliness, and Psychological Distress in Two Paternal Samples

• Published in: Mindfulness Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 982 - 1001
• Main Authors: van Heerden, Daniel, Mazzucchelli, Trevor G., Kirby, James N., Brett, Jack D., Mancini, Vincent O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Child development; Children & youth; Cognitive Psychology; Combination therapy; Emotional regulation; Emotions; Families & family life; Fathers; Health surveys; Intervention; Loneliness; Mental health; Mothers; Original Paper; Parent-child relations; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Public Health; Self compassion; Social Sciences; System theory; Parenting; Fathers; Self-compassion; Men
• ISSN: 1868-8527; 1868-8535
• DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02538-3

Objectives Self-compassion has emerged as a promising treatment target to promote healthy parent–child relationships, though mostly in maternal samples. The mechanisms through which self-compassion may optimise the father-child relationships are not yet well-established. This study integrated previous findings to test a conceptual model that hypothesised a sequential indirect effect of fathers’ self-compassion on father-child relationship quality via emotion regulation difficulties, loneliness, and psychological distress. Method The hypothesised model was tested in two different samples of fathers recruited using convenience sampling procedures. Sample 1 comprised an international sample of 320 fathers with children aged 3 to 18 years; Sample 2 comprised a more concentrated sample of 361 fathers residing in the USA and with children aged 5 to 12 years. All participants completed an online survey examining the psychosocial determinants of father-child closeness and conflict. Results Fathers’ self-compassion was indirectly associated with father-child closeness and conflict in both samples. In combination with emotion regulation difficulties, loneliness, and psychological distress, the variables explained more variance in conflict (up to 22%) compared to closeness (up to 13%). The model was largely invariant across both groups, though emotion regulation difficulties were notably higher for Sample 1. Conclusions The findings highlight a potential process model for self-compassion and the father-child relationship. Subject to further longitudinal or intervention studies, enhancing fathers’ self-compassion may help them to better regulate emotions, in turn reducing feelings of loneliness and psychological distress that could ultimately result in greater closeness and fewer conflicts in their relationships with their child. Preregistration This work was preregistered on the Open Science Framework. Protocol registration: https://osf.io/3k6x8