Academic studies need to be very carefully read and interpreted – and reported on!

The study does NOT say fathers “should stick to just playing with their children,” as the January 27, 2011, The Telegraph article by Richard Alleyne notes. Even though generalizations cannot be made from a sample of 112 and from one geographical area only (and here I call into question the decision by the peer-reviewed journal Developmental Psychology to accept and print the study as is), the study found that when both parents are responsible for the caring and upbringing of their children, there MAY be an increased sense of competitiveness between the two (due to different approaches, opinions) and this may be passed on to the children in a negative manner (thus disrupting domestic harmony, etc.). For this reason, parents need to examine which parenting model suits them best. In some cases, the model that MAY be best suited, say the authors of the study, Rongfang Jia and Sarah J. Schoppe-Sullivan (note the double-barrelled surname [Ed.: Thank you, Danae Harmandas.]…) is one where the father concentrates on playing with rather than equally caring for and disciplining his children (sounds like a whole lot of letting off the hook to me, but I digress…!).

The Greek article as well as the one from The Telegraph (it’s a wonder the study authors haven’t sued the reporters and their mediums yet!) have irresponsibly published a small part of the study and its results. The issues surrounding such an important matter are very complex and should be ‘handled’ with the utmost care and sensitivity to the message being passed on. Or don’t newspaper editors have that in their job description anymore?…)

And I ask: what is the problem with a different approach? Isn’t this an optimal way for children to learn about effective conflict resolution? Surely this must be more preferable than children learning that fathers are only good for playing and not competent enough to participate in their care and upbringing…? If I were a man, I would be very insulted.

And then we wonder about escalating divorce rates… “Hello, Ingrained Life-long Beliefs? Yes, this is Reality Today calling …”

To The Telegraph and Nooz.gr: tragic article and shoddy, irresponsible reporting. We need to be weary of misinformation!

The title of the academic research study is: ‘Relations Between Coparenting and Father Involvement in Families With Preschool-Age Children’; it has much to offer and much to make you want to vomit.