New study links dad’s trait anger to weaker father–infant bonding and higher toddler parenting stress; echoes calls for early support in Thai families
A recent international study reveals that a father’s dispositional anger—his tendency to feel angry across situations—can quietly erode the early bond with his infant and, a year later, elevate parenting stress when his child is a toddler. The research shows that a specific aspect of that anger, “patience and tolerance,” acts as a bridge between the father’s anger and later stress, meaning that when a dad struggles to stay patient with a newborn, the family atmosphere can become more stressful for years to come. In practical terms, the finding suggests that addressing a man’s anger early—before or soon after becoming a father—could improve both his relationship with his child and the overall mood of the home.