Predictors of paternal expressed emotion and its role in offspring development: quantitative analyses of an existing dataset

High prevalence of maternal and paternal postnatal depression (PND) and its adverse effects on offspring development is well-documented, highlighting intergenerational transmission of mental health risks. The emotional quality of parent-child interactions is considered a core mechanism underpinning increased risk of adverse development in children of parents with PND. Both maternal and paternal PND disrupt sensitive parent-child interactions, which, in turn, predict adverse offspring development. Besides standardised videotaped assessments of parent-child relationship quality, assessment of parental Expressed Emotion (EE) is also indicative of less optimal parent-child interactions. EE measures the emotional climate and quality of parent-child relationship using the Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS), differentiating between High (e.g., criticism) and Low EE. High EE is a marker of disrupted parent-child interactions and one of the mechanisms underlying transmission of mental health risks. Despite important implications of EE for offspring development, little is known about the role of maternal and paternal PND and inter- parental conflict in predicting paternal EE. The relationship between paternal EE and offspring outcomes is also less understood. The study sample (n=190) is drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children-Generation 2 (ALSPAC-G2), a large UK-based birth cohort. Parental PND was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Paternal EE was assesses using the FMSS, a five-minute audio-recording of fathers describing their thoughts and feelings towards their child and their relationship. Each speech sample is rated as High or Low on EE using a standardised coding scheme. Inter-parental relationship was assessed using a well- validated Relationship Satisfaction Scale. Offspring development was assessed using parental reports on the Denver Developmental Screening Test (Denver II) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Associations between maternal and paternal depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, paternal EE and offspring development will be explored using regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors (e.g., parental socioeconomic background).

The goals of this quantitative study are to:

(1) examine whether maternal and paternal PND and inter-parental conflict predict paternal EE towards the child at 6 months; (2) investigate whether paternal EE is associated with offspring development at 12 months.

The student will undertake coding of EE data using a well-validated and standardised coding scheme and conduct quantitative analyses examining associations between parental PND, inter-parental conflict, paternal EE and offspring developmental outcomes. The data are available and the study does not necessitate ethical approval. By the end of the project, the main goal is to complete data coding all planned analyses, which will form the basis of a manuscript to be further developed for publication.

Although perinatal depression is common among new parents, most evidence is predominantly focused on mothers. The effects of paternal PND on the emotional quality of father-child relationship and its role in intergenerational transmission of mental health risks are less understood. The proposed project will address a substantial gap in existing evidence with a strong potential to be developed into a high-impact peer-reviewed publication. Findings of the study may also have important implications for the development of health care pathways for fathers, as well as family-based interventions to promote the quality of father-child and couple relationship, disrupting intergenerational transmission of mental health risks in families. The student will benefit from working with highly publishable quantitative data from the UK population-based cohort, acquiring essential research skills in developmental and epidemiological research. There will be ample opportunities for the student to engage with community support groups and charities through public involvement and research dissemination events, as well as developing study findings into a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation. These opportunities will strengthen the student’s research and publication record, advancing their research career.

It is anticipated that the student will have some existing experience of conducting quantitative analyses (e.g., fitting regression models) using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata). However, training and guidance will also be provided by the supervisor to support the student and facilitate the acquisition and development of quantitative analyses skills. Previous experience of developing and submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals would also be beneficial.

The main dissemination channels are through publication of study findings as a manuscript in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal and presentations at conferences and public involvement dissemination events.

1. Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and suitability to the project supervisor(s). Please contact the project supervisor(s) in advance of submitting the application with any questions.

2. If selected by the project supervisor, the student must then complete the Placement /Internship Application form. This ensures that there is approval of PhD supervisor, and the necessary information is obtained to extend funding (for DTP1 students) or confirm placement requirement fulfilled (for DTP2 students), and to fulfil ESRC reporting obligations.  

Please note:

• Research Assistant Internships must not be undertaken with the student’s current supervisor and/or home department.
• DTP1 students (those whose funding commenced before Oct24): a maximum of 4 Research Assistant internships will be funded. These will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the 4 DTP1 places are filled, we will inform PIs that only DTP2 students are eligible for the Research Assistant internships. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DTP1 PLACES HAVE NOW BEEN FILLED.
• DTP2 students (those whose funding commenced from Oct24): are required to complete a 3-month placement, which is funded through their studentship. No limits to number that can be funded.
• Reports: at the conclusion of the internship, the student will be required to complete an internship report, which will include a question for the internship host to feedback on the internship.

Contact liss-dtp@kcl.ac.uk with any questions.