Fathers Matter Too: Investigating Their Role with the P-CRS

Background: The development of children is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, yet the role of fathers remains underrepresented in research. This study contributes to addressing this gap by examining paternal involvement through the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (P-CRS), an observational tool previously validated for mother-child interactions. Methods: The sample included 204 father-child dyads, with children aged 6 months to 5 years (mean age: 43.3 months), encompassing both clinical and non-clinical groups. Experienced clinicians conducted in vivo observations across 4-5 sessions, scoring interactions along three dimensions: parent, child, and interaction. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated the P-CRS's applicability to father-child relationships, confirming its psychometric robustness and alignment with the factors observed in mother-child dyads. Conclusions: These findings highlight the unique and complementary role of fathers in shaping developmental trajectories and underscore the importance of incorporating fathers in parenting interventions and assessments. Additionally, they demonstrate the P-CRS's effectiveness in capturing the nuanced dynamics of early parent-child relationships. Future research should investigate longitudinal differences in parental roles and expand the P-CRS's application to diverse family structures.