Why practising self-compassion makes better dads and happier kids
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock/Grady R/peopleimages.com. )
Key points
- 500 fathers of children aged 3-9 years are needed for a free online program to develop their self compassion.
- Father with high self-compassion can better regulate their emotions and connect with the kids in positive and meaningful ways.
- Strong father-child attachments are predictive of positive social emotional outcomes for children.
Fathers of young children are needed for a University of Queensland study examining how self-compassion plays a role in positive parent-child connections.
Associate Professor James Kirby of UQ’s School of Psychology is calling for 500 fathers of children aged 3 to 9 to participate in a free online program that aims to develop self-compassion and support the wellbeing of dads.
“Self-compassion simply means noticing your own suffering and then doing something to help alleviate it,’’ Dr Kirby said.
“It can involve being kind to yourself, validating and reassuring yourself, being accepting of what is, and encouraging yourself to keep trying.
“So often we ignore our pain, deny it, are ashamed of it, and try to avoid it at all costs, so self-compassion requires a lot of courage.’’
Dr Kirby said the study is the first self-compassion program specifically developed for fathers and provides clear practical strategies to manage challenges that arise with raising kids.
The program is online and is self-directed and takes about 50 minutes to complete, as fathers are asked to complete some surveys as part of the research. The program and aims to help fathers or significant male caretakers respond positively to their kids.
“Strong father-child attachments predict positive social emotional outcomes for children,’’ Dr Kirby said.
“But dads can feel stressed out and under pressure on how best to be a dad, particularly as they juggle with multiple roles.
“During these times, dads can be really hard on themselves and be self-critical, particularly when mistakes are made, and this can make things worse.
“This project aims at building fathers’ self-compassion because dads with high self-compassion are better able to regulate their emotions and connect with the kids in positive and meaningful ways.’’
The study will recruit dads from across Australia and includes a follow-up online survey 3 months later.
The study is run by researchers at The Compassionate Mind Research Group at UQ’s School of Psychology.
Topics
Related articles
‘Mob want to see mob’: First Nations clinics a priority for many young Indigenous Australians
