Role of paternal involvement in parenting in the association between parental adverse childhood experiences and autism like behavioral problems in children aged 3-6
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026144
- VernacularTitle:父亲参与养育对父母童年期不良经历与3~6岁儿童孤独症样行为问题关联的调节作用
- Author:
ZHANG Anhui, XU Yuxiang, CUI Xiaochen, HE Haiyan, LI Ruoyu, WAN Yuhui
1
Author Information
1. Child Health Care Department, Wuhu Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Fathers;
Education;
Life change events;
Autistic disorder;
Behavior;
Regression analysis;
Child,preschool
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(6):841-845
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the regulatory role of paternal involvement in parenting in the association between parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and autism like behavioral problems in children aged 3-6, so as to provide a basis for intervention strategies targeting the intergenerational health effects of ACEs.
Methods:A longitudinal study design was used to select 1 780 children aged 3-6 from 12 kindergartens in Wuhu City, Anhui Province in June 2021 as the subjects of the baseline survey by convenient sampling, and the follow up surveys were conducted once every six months, for a total of two follow ups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the association of parental ACEs and paternal involvement in parenting with autism like behavioral problems in children. A binary Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between parental ACEs and autism like behavioral problems in children. Based on stratification, the potential role of paternal involvement in the association between parental ACEs and autism like behavioral problems in children aged 3-6 was explored.
Results:Autism like behavioral problem score in children aged 3-6 was positively correlated with the total score ACEs of parents as well as scores of emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, community violence, peer bullying, and family dysfunction( r =0.18,0.16,0.18,0.14,0.06,0.05,0.12,0.18,0.09,all P <0.05). Autism like behavioral problem score in children was negatively correlated with score of paternal involvement in parenting( r =-0.16, P <0.01). After adjusting for covariates such as gender, age, and birth weight of children, binary Logistic regression analysis showed that children whose parents had experiences of childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, community violence, peer bullying, or family dysfunction had higher risks of developing autism like behavioral problems than those in the non exposed group ( OR =3.29, 3.28, 6.71, 2.34, 4.08, 2.02, all P <0.01). In the group with low paternal involvement in parenting, all dimensions of parental ACEs(emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, community violence, peer bullying, and family dysfunction) were significantly associated with an increased risk of autism like behavioral problems in children ( OR =1.84-8.34, all P <0.05). In contrast, in the group with high paternal involvement in parenting, no statistically significant associations were found between any dimension of parental ACEs and children s autism like behavioral problems ( OR =0.57-1.82, all P >0.05).
Conclusion:A high level of paternal involvement in parenting can reduce the adverse effects of parental ACEs on the occurrence of autism like behaviors in preschool children.
