The Role of Fathers’ Expressed Emotions in Psychopathology and Social-Emotional Competence in Adolescents

Abstract

Background: To study the role of fathers’ expressed emotions in psychopathology and social-emotional competence in adolescents. Methods: Through observational research design a study was conducted in the district Gujrat Pakistan from July 2020 to march 2021.As the inclusion criteria of the study was to include adolescents whose age range was 12 to 19 and the only fathers included whose children were adolescents. So the purposive sampling technique was used and five hundred adolescents were selected from different colleges and schools, five hundred fathers of same adolescents   approached from the community and their working places. For this purpose Parental Expressed Emotions Scale 1 was used and to assess the psychopathology (Social anxiety) and social-emotional competence in adolescents, Social Anxiety Scale,2 and Social Emotional-Competence Scale 3 were used and data was analyzed by using SPSS-21. Results: A total of 500 adolescents selected for study whose age range was from 12-19 years 4 and mean age of 16 years. In which 229 (46%) were boys and 271 (54%) were girls. Simple linear regression was used to see the effects of father expressed emotions in psychopathology and social-emotional competence in adolescents. Results showed significant difference in negative and positive expressed emotions of father. Father’ expressed emotions of critical comments caused 56%and hostility 64% predictor of social anxiety in adolescents. On the other hand father emotional -over involvement caused 11% warmth 37% and positive remarks 17% increase in social-emotional competence of adolescents. Conclusion: Father expressed emotions found to be significant predictor of social anxiety and social-emotional competence in adolescents.