Korean young adults’ perceptions of fathers’ gender role conflict, depressive symptoms, and paternal relationship quality: the mediating effects of fathers’ violence

ABSTRACT

The present study tested the mediating effects of fathers’ violence on the relationships among Korean young adults’ perceptions of their fathers’ gender role conflict, the quality of their relationships with their fathers, and depressive symptoms. Three hundred fifty six Korean university students in South Korea participated in the study. The hypothesized model was tested by using structural equation modelling. Results indicated fathers’ violence fully mediated the relationship between fathers’ perceived gender role conflict for Success, Power and Competition and paternal relationship quality, and partially mediated the relationship between fathers’ perceived Restrictive Emotionality and paternal relationship quality. Fathers’ perceived Restrictive Emotionality was also associated with their own depressive symptoms. Results were contextualized within dynamics of South Korean society and culture.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender role conflict
• violence
• depression
• fatherhood
• South Korea

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yoonhee Sung

Yoonhee Sung, Ph.D., is a research associate professor and assistant director of the Counseling Center at Pohang University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include multicultural counselling, gendered approaches in mental health, group counselling, and counsellor development.