Precursors to Paternal Identity: Antecedents and Consequences of Metaparenting

The present study explored the antecedents and consequences of metaparenting, or a mental plan for parenting, in a diverse sample of fathers (n = 66). Cross sectional data were drawn from a larger longitudinal project that interviewed fathers four times over the first two years of their children's lives. Childhood residential status and positive role models were found to relate to fathers' internal working models of parenting as measured by metaparenting. Higher levels of metaparenting led to more authoritative parenting, greater knowledge of child development, lower stress, and less abuse potential, when controlling for paternal age and intelligence. The results suggested that past experiences influenced fathers' internal working models of parenting and their ability to metaparent. In turn, metaparenting influenced parenting effectiveness.