The impact of Fathers’ Involvement on Preschoolers’ Resilience: a Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract Objective: This study based on the Kumpfer’s resilience framework, examines the relationship between fathers’ involvement and preschoolers’ resilience, focusing on the mediating role of preschoolers’ executive function and the moderating role of preschoolers’ extraversion. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 3,303 preschoolers aged 3-5 and their fathers using four validated instruments: the Father’s Involvement Scale, the Executive Function Scale, the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers Second Edition, and the Extraversion Scale. A moderated mediation model was employed to analyze the relationships among fathers’ involvement, preschoolers’ resilience, executive function and extraversion. Results: Fathers’ involvement had a significant positive impact on preschoolers’ resilience. Executive function played a mediating role between them. Meanwhile, extraversion moderated the relationship between preschoolers’ executive function and resilience. The research results indicated that a high level of fathers’ involvement enhanced preschoolers’ resilience through their executive function. When preschoolers’ extraversion was low, the moderating effect between executive function and preschoolers’ resilience was more significant. Conclusion: This study revealed the impact of fathers’ involvement on preschoolers’ executive function and resilience, and highlighted the moderating role of preschoolers’ extraversion. Interventions should focus on promoting the active involvement of fathers and enhancing executive function in preschoolers, particularly paying attention to different levels of extraversion, to enhance preschoolers’ resilience.