Fathers' perception of fatherhood role, attitudes toward parenting, and father's participation as the predictive of emotion regulation skills of children aged between 3-6 years

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between perception of fathers, who have children aged between 3-6 years old, of the role of paternity, father involvement, and attitude of fathers towards parenting, and the emotion regulation skills of children. The research is designed in the relational survey model, which is one of the quantitative research types. The study group of the research consists of 413 children, attending kindergarten in 13 schools, affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the central districts of Adana province, and their fathers. The study group of the research is selected by typical case sampling method. As data collection tools, the "General Information Form" created by the researcher to determine the demographic characteristics of the participants in the research, the "Father Role Perception Scale (BRAS)", which is developed by Kuzucu (1999), is developed by Sımsıkı and Şendil (2014), and its validity is validated. and the reliable "Father Participation Scale (BACS)", the "Attitude Towards Parenting Scale-Father Form (EYTÖ)" adapted into Turkish by Seçer et al. (2008), and the "Emotional Regulation Scale" adapted into Turkish by Batum and Yağmurlu (2007). Scale (DBL)" is used. The data is analyzed, using the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program. For the difference between two groups, "independent sample t" is applied for measurements with normal distribution in comparison of quantitative data; whereas, analysis of variance (ANOVA) is applied for measurements with normal distribution in the comparison of scores of more than two groups. In order to measure the relationship between the variables used in the research, Pearson correlation analysis is performed and the results are interpreted. In case of a statistically significant difference between the groups, Bonferroni analysis is performed to determine between which two groups the difference is. The reliability of the scales used in the study is tested with the Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis. Three different simple regression analyzes are performed for each independent variable. A simple regression analysis is performed regarding the sub-dimensions of the independent variables predicting the total score and sub-dimensions of the dependent variable. Finally, hierarchical regression analysis is conducted on how attitudes towards parenting, father involvement, and perception of paternal role predict emotion regulation skills of children. As a result of the research, it is concluded that emotion regulation skills of children does not make a significant difference according to the age of children, the age of father, and the number of children; however, variability/negativity sub-dimension of the scale is in favor of girls according to the gender of the child. Moreover, it is determined that the emotion regulation sub-dimension of the scale make a significant difference according to the education level of father, the education level of mother, and the income status of the family. When the relationship between the scores obtained from the scales as a result of the simple regression analysis is examined, it is concluded that the paternity role is not a significant predictor of the emotion regulation skills of the child. On the other hand, it is established that arbitrary preoccupation in father involvement is a significant predictor of positive skills of children towards regulation, while satisfaction with parenting in parenting attitude is a significant predictor of variable/negative skills of children in regulation and general skills in emotion regulation. When the relationship between the scores obtained from the scales as a result of the hierarchical regression analysis is examined, it is concluded that only the attitude towards parenting, from the role of father, father involvement and attitude towards parenting, are significant predictors of skills for emotion regulation. Key Words: Emotion Regulation, Fatherhood Role, Attitude Towards Parenting, Father's Participatin.