Stressed-Out Behavior From Dads Can Affect Toddlers' Language Development

Children pick up on verbal cues from their parents and other members at home. But, a new study revealed that dads, in particular, might have a huge impact on children’s language development.

Researchers from Michigan State University found that stressed-out behavior exhibited by a father could negatively impact the language development of toddlers, even after taking the mothers’ role into account. The recently resurfaced 2016 study provides some of the most conclusive evidence of the importance of fathers' contribution to children’s outcomes. It also reinforces the idea that early intervention programs should be supported by both parents alike.

“There’s this whole idea that grew out of past research that dads really don’t have direct effects on their kids, that they just kind of create the tone for the household and that moms are the ones who affect their children’s development,” MSU Today quoted the study’s lead investigator and associate professor Claire Vallotton. “But here we show that fathers really do have a direct effect on kids, both in the short term and long term,” he added.

The study included data from 730 families, which participated in a survey of early head start programs at different sites across the country. The researchers analyzed the effects of parents’ stress and mental health issues including depression. The findings of the study conveyed that parental health issues affected the way they interact with their kids that subsequently affected their development.

Gathered date also suggested that fathers’ parenting-related stress, in particular, had a negative impact on their children’s cognitive and language development during the toddler stage. The impact of fathers’ influence was found to be larger on toddler boys than girls.

Although the mental health of both the parents had a similarly significant effect on behavior issues among toddlers, fathers’ mental health had a long-term impact which could affect a child’s social skills during fifth grade. The study highlighted the fact that a father’s depression symptom during his child’s toddler stage could impact the child’s future social skills.

The findings of the study contribute to the growing body of research affirming the effects of fathers’ characteristics and the quality of the relationship a father has with his child on the child’s social and cognitive development.