PSİKOLOJİK İYİ OLUŞ VE EVLİLİK DOYUMU BAĞLAMINDA BABA KATILIMI: BİR MODEL TESTİ

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between fathers' perceptions of gender equality, maternal gatekeeping, work-family-life balance, marital satisfaction, and psychological well-being in relation to father engagement among fathers of children aged 0-6 years. The research consists of three studies: Study I (qualitative) and Study III (quantitative) form a mixed-methods design involving 364 fathers, while Study II focuses on the development and validation of the Father Engagement Scale with data from 770 fathers. In Study II, content validity, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), criterion validity, and reliability analyses were conducted. The results confirmed that the Father Engagement Scale is a valid and reliable tool for measuring father involvement. Study III tested a structural model in which gender equality, maternal gatekeeping, and work- family-life balance were predictors, father engagement was the mediator, and marital satisfaction and psychological well-being were outcomes. Data were collected using validated measurement tools, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized for analysis. The findings indicate that father engagement significantly mediates the effects of gender equality, maternal gatekeeping, and work-family-life balance on marital satisfaction and psychological well-being. The proposed model was statistically significant. This study provides insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of promoting father engagement to enhance family well-being. Findings, limitations, and practical implications are discussed.