1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]he first objective of this study was to verify the existence of an association between the father–son activation relationship in toddlerhood (before the appearance of RTP) and the frequency of father–son RTP [rough-and-tumble play] in the preschool period.» (p. 762)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Considering that according to Paquette (2004) RTP may encourage the development of competition skills (including aggression), it was anticipated that no association would be found between the father–child attachment relationship in toddlerhood and the frequency of father–child RTP in the preschool period.» (p. 763)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample comprised 58 father–child dyads with 22 boys and 36 girls. The average age for fathers was 34.8 years (ranging between 25 and 49 years).» (p. 763)

Instruments :
Questionnaire «Father–child play»

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«The analyses verified the hypothesis of an association between the father–son activation relationship score in toddlerhood and father–son RTP frequency at the age of three years. The more optimally activated boys are by their father in toddlerhood, the more they engage in RTP with him at the age of three years. However, it was not possible to verify whether the frequency of father–son RTP was significantly lower in the under-activated group than in the other two groups. […] Moreover, as it was anticipated, there was no association between the father–child attachment relationship in toddlerhood and the frequency of father–child RTP in the preschool period. This study also reveals how much more difficult it is to detect effects using categories instead of scales, no doubt due to the greater measuring error. However, we observed a tendency for avoidant children to do more RTP than secure or resistant children. It is possible that the use of an avoidance scale would give significant results but the SS [Strange Situation] procedure does not produce any such score.» (p. 769)