Maltreatment by Fathers and Externalizing Behavior Problem: The Effect of Child Personality

Abstract

This study examined the relation between maltreatment by fathers and externalizing behavior in children. It assessed the moderating role of child personality characteristics in this association. A totalof155 biological father-child dyads participated. Children were 7 to 10 years old (M = 8.6, SD = 1.11) from Bungoma County in Kenya. The findings indicated that there was no significant difference in physical and psychological maltreatment, and neglect of boys and girls by fathers. There was also no significant difference between the Big Five Personality Factors: Agreeableness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Openness of boys and girls. In addition, no significant difference emerged in externalizing behavior between boys and girls. Maltreatment by fathers was associated with externalizing behavior problems in children. Openness and Extraversion moderated this association. Children who are more open and more extraverted were more susceptible to externalizing behavior when maltreated by fathers than those who were less open and less extraverted. This study adds to existing knowledge on child maltreatment and behavior problems and the role of fathers, an area that has least been explored in Kenyan research on parenting. It provides insight into the development of inclusive parent training programs on positive parenting that include fathers. The training should focus on promoting father-child relationship by equipping fathers with knowledge on how to respond to the needs of children with different personality traits and behavior. This study recommends that prevention and treatment programs should target both boys and girls.